Militants warn Pandits about returning to Kashmir

A combine of four militant groups on Friday banned the return of migrant Kashmiri Pandits to the valley till 'they apologise and vow to join the freedom struggle.'

The four militant groups -- the Farzandan-e-Milat, Save Kashmir Movement, Al-Arifeen and Al-Nasreen -- shot into headlines in Srinagar early this year when they banned the Karwane Aman, the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.

The groups also claimed responsibility for the attack on the Tourist Reception Centre situated in the high security zone of Srinagar on April 6. The administration had lodged the passengers, ready to undertake the historic bus journey, at the centre.

The militant combine said the Pandits had 'played willing tools in the hands of the then Governor Jagmohan' who, the militant groups claimed, had 'carried out murderous campaigns against Muslims in Kashmir.'

'The return of the Pandits could not be allowed till they individually and collectively apologise for their betrayal and conspiracies against the Muslims and join the freedom struggle,' they said.

The militant combine lambasted the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, for what it said was 'providing colours to the blank Indian map in Kashmir.'

Just two days ago, the APHC had held a day-long conclave at Srinagar to pave the way for the return of the Kashmiri migrant Pandits back to the valley.