Jammu, Jan 19: Thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits took to the streets late on Monday night in the Jagti area of Jammu, holding a massive protest that brought traffic on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway to a standstill for several hours. The demonstration was held to mark the 36th anniversary of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus from the Valley and to press long-standing demands from the community. Led by youth groups including Youth 4 Panun Kashmir, the protest quickly escalated as demonstrators shut down the major highway, blocking movement and creating prolonged traffic congestion. Protesters voiced strong dissatisfaction with successive governments, saying that more than three decades after their displacement, there has been no meaningful solution on issues of rehabilitation, security, and political rights for the community.
Among the key demands raised were the creation of a separate Union Territory within the Kashmir Valley exclusively for the rehabilitation and safe return of Kashmiri Pandits, along with the passage of an anti-genocide bill in Parliament and official recognition of the 1990s exodus as a genocide. Demonstrators argued that without a distinct administrative arrangement, a secure and dignified return to their homeland is not feasible.
Senior police officials and civil administration representatives rushed to the scene to urge protesters to clear the highway and resolve the block peacefully, but the crowd remained firm in its demands well into the night. The blockade was eventually lifted after talks between authorities and community leaders, and traffic on the national highway has since resumed. While the protest ended with the removal of the highway blockade, many participants said their discontent remains strong as they continue to seek government assurances on their core demands.
