Kashmiri Pandits holds protests amid demand for "Composite Township"

Jammu, April 10: Various organisations representing people of Kashmiri Pandit community on Friday held protests here against the separatists and political parties opposed to the idea of creation of a "composite township" in Kashmir Valley for the displaced people.

Members of the community living in various satellite townships here demanded townships in the Valley where they can live peacefully.

"It has been 25 years that we were forced to leave Kashmir valley and now we want to go back to our homeland. At present the situation is not conducive for our return to our native places so we want a Jagti-type township in Kashmir Valley where we can go and live peacefully," said Kakaji Bhat, a resident of the Jagti satellite township for Kashmiri migrants.

He said Kashmiri Pandits want to return to their native places, but the opposition from separatists has shown that situation is not conducive for their return.

"There are certain villages in the Valley where only one or two Kashmiri Pandit families used to live. They were forced to leave their houses, how can you expect them to return to their native place where they will have to live under the shadow of militant guns always," Kakaji said.

Raising slogans against separatist leaders, the residents demanded that the state government should not succumb to the pressure of the separatists and should go ahead with the township proposal.

PTI