Ministers, Police ignored our plea: Victims
Baba Umar
Srinagar, May 03: Dozens of nomadic Bakerwals of Kathua district on Tuesday alleged physical assaults and livestock looting by “pro-Hindutva” activists in Udhampur when the shepherds were in Majalta area of the district along with their cattle.
A delegation of community members told Rising Kashmir that around 300 pro-Hindutva activists in Udhampur led by Ramesh Sharma of Doma, Raju of Majalta and Laabu of Udhampur raided their caravan with tridents and swords besides looting livestock worth Rs 80 lakh.
“At this time of year we move towards upper pastures but when we reached Majalta, the trio came with almost 300 men and looted our belongings,” Muhammad Sadiq, one of the delegation members said.
He said the attack took place in the afternoon of April 7 and despite repeated attempts, officials didn’t help.
Another member, Muhammad Riyaz said the Hindu mob also fired many bullets “to threaten us of consequences if we didn’t leave the area quickly.”
“They attacked our children and women too. We ran away leaving our belongings there,” said Muhammad Azim, who was beaten up by the mob said.
Muslim Bakerwals’ migration from Jammu begins in February and the community reaches Udhampur by the end of the month when Gujjars of Udhampur too start upward migration.
The migratory route is almost parallel to Jammu-Srinagar highway, but up to Ramban the community adopts a shorter route avoiding traffic hazards on the highway.
From Ramban to Banihal, they take the highway route but they make every effort to avoid the busy road. After crossing the Jawahar tunnel they disperse and proceed towards the sub-alpine and alpine pastures which they have been using for a long time.
After this attack, Bakerwals said they are frightened, so much, that many of the community members are thinking to give up the migration practice.
“Now it has become quite dangerous to continue with our age-old migration,” a Bakerwal woman said.
Azim said the community members, immediately after attack and plunder on their livestock, visited police officials, Gujjar leader and Forest and Environment Minister Mian Altaf “but no one helped us.”
“Mian Altaf gave us three minutes to explain our story. He promised us action but nothing happened,” the community members said adding some police officials suggested them not to blow up the issue.
“That’s why we have come here to highlight what happened to us,” they said.
Officials have, meanwhile, rejected the allegations.
“There were no attacks on Bakerwals,” DC Udhampur Bashir Ahmad Khan told Rising Kashmir over phone.
“The Bakerwals’ livestock had lost track in the jungles and after complaints, it was recovered with the help of concerned SHO and Tehsildar,” he claimed.
SSP Udhampur, Surinder Gupta could not be contacted for his comments.
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