Ronik Sharma
On July 13th 1931 in Kashmir genocide of the Kashmiri Hindus happened and it was the first genocide in the history of the Kashmir valley against the minority community in which Kashmiri Hindus were targeted and the Hindu community was subjected to incendiarism , murder and mayhem on a large scale in the valley by the majority community . Observance of the 13th July as the so-called Martyrs' Day by the political structures of the state is tantamount to rubbing salt on the festering wounds of the minority Hindu community of Jammu Kashmir. It adds insult to injury that on a day, when the Kashmiri Hindus were subjected to mass persecution and loot, has been designated as the official martyrs' day by the political class of the valley. In accordance with the chalked out plan in 1931, the mobs under the supervision and leadership of communal forces looted Hindu properties and houses at Vicharnag, Maharaj Ganj (the hub of business activity), Amirakadal, Hari Singh High Street and parts of Bohrikadal. In Kanikoot village (now in Badgam district) Hindus were mercilessly beaten, their properties vandalized and there are accounts of families being thrown from the windows of a three-storey house and brutally killed. The Hindu community of all hues in the valley was taken aback; this carnage shook its confidence because of the fact that it had to face a one sided onslaught for no fault of theirs. The nationalist forces in the state cannot forget the facts of history and have been observing this day as the black day for the last number of decades. Those who forget the facts of history are condemned to live it again and that is why that the leadership of the nationalist forces has to remain on guard against any hasty and apolitical move regarding the Kashmir imbroglio.
The writer is an advocate.
