2003 Nadimarg massacre: Difference between revisions

'''2003 Nadimarg massacre''' was killing of 24 [[Hindu]] [[Kashmiri Pandit]]s in the village of Nadimarg in [[Pulwama District]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] by [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] militants on 23 March 2003.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2003/03/25/top8.htm Kashmir killing stokes tension] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025084146/http://www.dawn.com/2003/03/25/top8.htm |date=25 October 2010 }}, [[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]], 25 March 2003</ref><ref name=latimes>[http://articles.latimes.com/2003/mar/30/news/adfg-indiakill30 Kashmir Massacre Shakes Village’s Sense of Fraternity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928085145/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/mar/30/news/adfg-indiakill30 |date=28 September 2012 }}, ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 30 March 2003</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/24-hindus-are-shot-dead-in-kashmiri-village.html 24 Hindus Are Shot Dead in Kashmiri Village] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081401/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/24-hindus-are-shot-dead-in-kashmiri-village.html |date=11 February 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', 24 March 2003</ref>

In 1990, 300,000 to 600,000 Kashmiri Hindus left Kashmir after being selectively targeted by the Islamic militants.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Casimir |first=Michael J. |last2=Lancaster |first2=William |last3=Rao |first3=Aparna |date=1997-06-01 |title=Editorial |journal=Nomadic Peoples |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=3–4 |doi=10.3167/082279497782384668 |issn=0822-7942}}</ref>

The armed militants came dressed in counterfeit military uniforms.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,438936,00.html Grief, Again] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120173347/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,438936,00.html |date=20 January 2011 }}, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 31 March 2003</ref> The attack took place between 11&nbsp;pm and midnight.<ref>[http://www.publicinternationallaw.org/docs/PNW3/PNW.24March_03.htm#Kashmir 24 Hindus killed in Indian Kashmir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809084531/http://www.publicinternationallaw.org/docs/PNW3/PNW.24March_03.htm#Kashmir |date=9 August 2007 }}, [[Agence France-Presse]], 24 March 2003</ref> Victims included 11 men, 11 women, and two small boys who were lined up and shot and killed by the gunmen.<ref>[https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2003/33773.htm Appendix A – Chronology of Significant International Terrorist Incidents, 2003 (Revised 6/22/04)] , [[United States Department of State]]</ref><ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/24jk.htm 24 Pandits killed in Kashmir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007035318/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/24jk.htm |date=7 October 2008 }}, [[Rediff.com]], 24 March 2003</ref> The victims ranged from a 65-year-old man to a 2-year-old boy.<ref name=latimes/>

On night of 23 March 2003 the terrorists entered at Nadimarg village near Shopian in [[Pulwama]] district in Jammu and Kashmir and dragged the Hindus out from their homes, lined them and shot them from automatic weapons. At least 24 [[Hindus]] including 11 women and 2 children were killed. The policemen posted there fled the scene. The killers allegedly disfigured the bodies of the victims, looted their houses and took away the ornaments from bodies of the dead women.

Three [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] militants suspected to be responsible for this massacre were gunned down by Mumbai police on 29 March.<ref>[http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=20148 Suspected Nadimarg killers gunned down in Mumbai] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920174456/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=20148 |date=20 September 2012 }}, [[The Indian Express]], 29 March 2003</ref> Another [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] Militant suspected of participating in the massacre was arrested in April 2003.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023043814/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-04-10/india/27288190_1_arbaz-alias-abdullah-umar-massacre-suri LeT militant involved in Nadimarg massacre held], ''[[The Times of India]]'', 10 April 2003</ref> Christina Rocca then US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia argued for the need for US to remain "actively and effectively engaged", pointing out to this massacre.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/atrocity-heightens-tension-in-kashmir-592793.html Atrocity heightens tensions in Kashmir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025165636/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/atrocity-heightens-tension-in-kashmir-592793.html |date=25 October 2012 }}, ''[[The Independent]]'', 30 March 2003</ref> In an editorial in Pakistan's ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]'', Kunwar Idris criticised the massacre and said "Pundits are children of no lesser god that two hundred thousand of them should be driven out of their homes and the remaining few should be left to die a gruesome death."<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2003/03/30/op.htm#2 The murder of Pundits] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025092149/http://www.dawn.com/2003/03/30/op.htm#2 |date=25 October 2010 }}, ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]'', 30 March 2003</ref> [[Chris Patten]] European Commissioner for External Relations and United Nations Secretary-General [[Kofi Annan]] also condemned the massacre.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.europaworld.org/week122/pattenoffers28303.htm |title=Patten Offers Condolences After Kashmir Massacre |access-date=6 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030418173448/http://www.europaworld.org/week122/pattenoffers28303.htm |archive-date=18 April 2003 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> India accused [[Pakistan]] of being involved in this massacre and said that it would deal with [[Pakistan]] with strength and resolve.<ref>[https://archive.today/20110522164832/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2003-03/a-2003-03-26-60-India.cfm India: Cross-Border Terrorism Infrastructure Must Be Dismantled], [[Voice of America]], 26 March 2003</ref> The police issued an arrest warrant in the Nadimarg massacre case, naming Zai Mustafa, alias Abdullah of [[Rawalkote]], Pakistan.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/209-kashmiri-pandits-killed-since-1989-say-jk-cops-in-first-report/305457/ 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed since 1989, say J-K cops in first report] {{webarchive |url=https://www.webcitation.org/5ghhqgktD?url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/209-kashmiri-pandits-killed-since-1989-say-jk-cops-in-first-report/305457/ |date=12 May 2009 }}, ''[[The Indian Express]]'', 5 May 2008</ref>

Intercepts by the intelligence agencies point out that there was a possible involvement of the [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] and the [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] groups which have been operating the Shupian area.{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}}

Then chief minister [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]] promised increased police protection however terror stricken few remaining Hindus decided to leave the area.{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}}

The US Secretary of State [[Colin Powell|Powell]] and British foreign minister [[Jack Straw|Straw]] issued a joint statement of 27 March 2003 and condemned the Nadimarg massacre, urged respect for the Line of Control, called on [[Pakistan]] to end infiltration across it and urged Pakistan to do its utmost to discourage acts of violence by militants in J&K.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050113182531/http://meaindia.nic.in/opinion/2003/05/08o02.htm]

*[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=356738825126278302 Short video on Nadimarg Massacre]

*[http://kashmirherald.com/apr2003/nadimarg.html Photographs of the Tragedy]

[[Category:March 2003 events in Asia]]