Kashmiri Pandits Protest on 36th Anniversary of Exodus, Block Highway

Thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits gathered in Jagti, Jammu, late at night to mark the 36th anniversary of their exodus. Protesters blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for several hours, demanding the establishment of a separate union territory, an anti-genocide bill, and recognition as victims of genocide. The demonstration, led by the youth wing of Panun Kashmir, escalated, leading to chants against the government and calls for swift action on their long-pending demands. Protesters highlighted the lack of concrete solutions for rehabilitation, security, and political rights for the displaced community over three decades. Key demands include a separate union territory within the Kashmir Valley for safe and dignified return, and the passage of an 'Anti-Genocide Bill' in Parliament. They urged the government to officially recognize them as victims of genocide, viewing the 1990s exodus as a planned act rather than mere displacement. The highway blockade caused extensive traffic disruption, with hundreds of vehicles stranded. Senior police and civil administration officials attempted to pacify the protesters. One protester was injured after falling from a culvert and was taken for medical treatment. The protest concluded after prolonged negotiations with the administration, and traffic on the national highway has since been restored, though dissatisfaction among the Kashmiri Pandits persists.