Unveiling the Silent Genocide: Panun Kashmir's Call for Justice

At a World Refugee Day event, Panun Kashmir called for justice for Kashmiri Pandits, emphasizing that refugee status is a reminder of ongoing injustice. Leaders highlighted systemic failures in protecting Pandits and rejected reconciliation efforts without justice. They stressed that the narrative needs to shift towards accountability and restitution.

Panun Kashmir, an organization representing displaced Kashmiri Pandits, has issued a clarion call for justice, emphasizing that refugee status serves as a constant reminder of ongoing injustice. Speaking on World Refugee Day, Panun Kashmir's organizing secretary, B L Kaul, condemned the 'global silence' surrounding the community's plight, urging for substantial restitution over mere symbolic gestures.

Former J-K Police director general S P Vaid recalled the Pahalgam attack, highlighting systemic failures in police operations intended to protect Kashmiri Pandits. He argued that the attack was a result of a lack of intent rather than intelligence, further pointing out how red flags were ignored by the machinery, leading to tragic consequences.

Legal expert Tito Ganju discussed the international framework of genocide studies, classifying Kashmiri Hindus' displacement as a form of long-standing genocide. He warned against enforced reconciliation without justice, calling it a 'second wound'. Panun Kashmir's chairman, Dr. Ajay Chrungoo, criticized the drive for peace as 'psychological warfare' against victims, demanding accountability and a turn away from the silencing of their struggles.

(With inputs from agencies.)