On Sunday, 31st July, at around 1 am a terrible fire broke out in Anantnag’s Lone Mohalla in Mattan, swallowing and destroying five Kashmiri Pandit houses to ashes. The event compelled the Jammu and Kashmir Police to organize a special squad to look into the origin of the fire.
As per the reports, the fire began in a vacant Pandit home and swiftly spread to other homes, causing extensive damage. Neighbours in the surrounding community quickly called the fire department, which arrived on the site at 1:45 am with five trucks. Despite their efforts, it took several hours to contain the fire, which damaged five structures and razed one house to the ground.
Nissar Ahmed, a Fire Brigade Officer, commented on the incident and said, “We were informed and we came immediately. About five vehicles were deployed and the fire was controlled in three to four hours.”
Three Kashmiri Hindu houses were gutted in massive fire in Mattan of Anantnag, South Kashmir on July 29th night. Police have launched an investigation. I hope perpetrators are caught if there is a foul play. Since early 1990s many Hindu houses have been gutted in fire in Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/xnY1CBzxeD
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) July 31, 2024
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have filed a report and begun an inquiry into the cause of the fire. Members of the Kashmiri Pandit community who live outside Kashmir believe that the fire was deliberately lit to scare them and prevent them from returning to the Valley.
The National Conference political party has declared solidarity with the Kashmiri Pandit. “We stand with our Kashmiri Pandit brothers after the tragic fire that destroyed several houses in Mattan, Anantnag. One of the affected houses holds deep emotional significance as it was the maternal home of our additional spokesperson, Umesh Tashi. We call upon the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to bring the culprits to justice,” it said.
Chairman of Kashmir Sharada Peeth Awasthapan, Ravindra Pandita also commented on the issue and said, “The recent fire in the properties of Kashmiri migrants in Mattan has shocked everyone. The Deputy Commissioner, who is the custodian of minority properties, has not taken proper steps to preserve them. This is clearly a case of vandalism, and we need preventive measures. The administration should ensure such acts do not happen again and compensate the owners.”
Members of the Kashmiri Pandit community have stated that they will not be intimidated. Ashok Kumar, President of All Temples and Shrines South Kashmir, said, “We will not be frightened or scared. We have been threatened since the 1990s, but this is our Janmabhoomi, and we will remain here. We are renovating our buildings and temples, and we will not be deterred by their actions. The government must ensure the safety of Kashmiri Pandits and their property.”
The police have taken swift action, launching an investigation and gathering evidence. “There has been a report of a fire in the house of Shri Anand Ji Rajdan in the Mattan area. SHO Mattan reached the spot with a police party, and the fire brigade was called. The fire was controlled in about one and a half hours. Nearby houses were also damaged. We have registered a case under section 326BNS and collected CCTV footage for the investigation. A senior officer is supervising the investigation,” Javed Iqbal, DIG South Kashmir Range was quoted as saying.
Kashmiri Pandit community members, both inside and outside the Valley, are calling for a comprehensive probe and requesting the government to strengthen security for unoccupied Pandit properties and temples. They feel such steps are vital to counter the goals of those who oppose Kashmiri Pandits’ rehabilitation.
The sad tragedy has once again highlighted the issues confronting the Kashmiri Pandit community, as well as the need for coordinated actions to ensure their safety and return to the Valley.
