ISLAMABAD: At least 6,000 Kashmiri Muslims have taken refuge in severalmosques of Indian occupied Jammu district fearing attacks by Hindu mobs inthe wake of suicide attack in Pulwama district in which 44 paramilitaryforces were killed.
According to *Kashmir Media Service*, Abdul Majid, a member of MakkahMasjid Committee, Bathindi, said: “Around 2,500 to 3,000 people are puttingup here. These include stranded Kashmir-bound passengers as well as peopleliving in sensitive zones of Jammu district.”
“We reached Jammu on Sunday evening, fearing attacks in other areas, wetook refuge in Makkah Masjid, Bathindi,” said Aijaz Ahmed Mir, a residentof Baramulla who had gone to Chandigarh with his wife for medical treatment.
Another resident of occupied Kashmir, Zahid Salam Wani, said: “I am fromBudgam district and pursue my studies in Kolkata. Due to the prevailingsituation, I came to Jammu by train and plan to go to Srinagar tomorrow. Iwill be staying here at Bathindi”.
The committee members Muhammad Ashraf, Jamaat Ali and Majid Ahmed Tak askedpeople from all communities to come to Bathindi if they feel unsafeelsewhere.
Meanwhile, in Khatika Talab’s Jamia Masjid around 1,000-1,500 people havetaken refuge.
According to Salman Salaria, a local resident, “We have made allarrangements here, from food to bedding.”
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The locals provided gas cylinders, ration as well as cash. Besides, thelocal hoteliers provided utensils to cook food.
In Gujjar Nagar, around 1,000-1,500 people have taken refuge.
Inside India, after various reports of Kashmiris including students,traders and employees were threatened to leave the place.
A 42-year-old cardiologist from Srinagar, who has spent the last 22 yearsworking in Kolkata, has been asked by a group of people to leave the city.- APP