Altogether 6,514 Kashmiri Pandits are still residing in Kashmir valley — highest 2,639 in Kulgam district, quoting Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Rai said in Rajya Sabha that no Kashmiri Pandit has left the valley in 2022.
The number of Kashmiri Pandits who are still residing in the valley as on 20 July is 6,514, he said, replying to a written question.
The minister said the highest number of Kashmiri Pandits are living in Kulgam district (2,639), followed by Budgam (1,204), Anantnag (808), Pulwama (579), Srinagar (455), Shopian (320), and Baramulla (294), among others.
As many as 12 Kashmiri Pandits were killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmir during 2020, 2021 and 2022, he said.
Replying to another question, Rai said the government has a policy of zero tolerance against militancy and the security situation has improved significantly in J-K.
There has been substantial decline in militant attacks — from 417 in 2018 to 229 in 2021, he said, as per the report.
Since the abrogation of J-K’s limited autonomy in August 2019, “nine government employees (excluding security forces) have lost their lives in terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir,” Rai said. (PTI)
