Amid heightened tensions, the last rites of an 80-year-old Kashmiri Pandit woman in Kulgam’s Y K Pora village were jointly performed by Muslim residents.
As per reports, the woman named Dulari Bhat had gone to Mattan, Anantnag to attend a marriage ceremony during which her condition deteriorated and she passed away. She was later brought to her native village Y K Pora in Kulgam, where hundreds of Muslims, especially neighbors and locals, were waiting for her body.
“She was a great human being who would visit Muslims during festivals and also whenever anyone among us would die. She was part and parcel of the composite culture and today, it is our duty to return the favor by ensuring her last rites are performed as per their religious rites,” said Altaf Ahmed, a local to India Today.
Dulari Bhat was the wife of late Janki Nath, who spent all her years in her native village, Y K Pora which resulted in the inseparable bond with the residents. Subash Bhat, son of Dulari Bhat, said that they are thankful to the Muslims who stood with them in this hour of grief.
“We have been living together and we didn’t flee Kashmir despite the fact that our father was killed in the 90s. We are thankful that they are with us in the time of this great loss,” he said.
Likewise, Chuni Lal Bhat, a relative of Dulari said that Kashmir is the best example of communal harmony, brotherhood, and Pandits and Muslims share a great and strong bond that has been there for decades.
“Today, Muslims of the area stood with us and participated in the last rites of Dulari. They remained present till Dulari was cremated. Muslims and Pandits are incomplete without each other”, he said.
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Tension between Kashmiri Pandit and Muslims
In the wake of the killing of Rahul Bhat, who was working at Tehsil office Chadoora in Budgam, Kashmiri Pandits are up in arms at this point in time. The murder has sparked massive protests across Kashmir with migrant Kashmiri Pandits demanding security and safe postings.
The administration has stated that the killers of Bhat will have to pay a heavy price. They are also working on providing safe and secure accommodation to the Kashmiri Pandits working under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Packaged in Kashmir besides streamlining their postings.