KEY POINTS
- Islamist terror has repeatedly targeted Hindus in J&K for decades
- Apologists always try to deflect the religious angle with emotional narratives
- The core ideology behind the violence is ignored by mainstream voices
Every time a terror attack soaked in Islamic extremism unfolds in India, a familiar pattern kicks in. The same ecosystem of terror apologists scrambles to whitewash the brutality, peddling their old and exhausted narrative: “This has nothing to do with religion.” They rush to find a sob story about the terrorist’s poverty, highlight a token candle march, or amplify a carefully picked Muslim voice condemning the attack all in a desperate bid to blunt the religious angle behind such bloodshed.
But the ground reality especially in Jammu and Kashmir continues to rip this narrative to shreds.
From the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s to the horrifying attack on Hindu pilgrims in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, the pattern of Islamist terror targeting Hindus is undeniable. And yet, every time a Hindu is slaughtered in these attacks, the political and media class finds everything and everyone to blame — except the radical Islamic ideology that fuels these massacres.
Here’s a chronological list of terror attacks that lay bare the communal hatred that has repeatedly been unleashed upon Hindus and other minorities in the region:
1993 Kishtwar Terrorist Attack
On August 14, 1993, three armed terrorists hijacked a bus in Sarthal, Kishtwar, carrying Hindu passengers. After forcing women and children off the bus, they took the male passengers to a different location, divided them into two groups, and shot them point-blank. The massacre marked the beginning of terror’s expansion into the Jammu region and triggered a wave of Hindu migration.
1998 Wandhama Massacre
On January 25, 1998, in Wandhama town of Ganderbal, 23 Kashmiri Pandits from the same family were butchered. The terrorists, dressed in Army uniforms, spoke to the family members before gathering them and opening fire. Only one member survived. A temple was also set ablaze by the attackers.
1998 Prankote & Dakikote Massacre
On April 17, 1998, 29 Hindus, including 13 women and children, were beheaded by Islamic terrorists in Prankote and Dakikote (now Reasi district). Survivors said they were ordered to convert to Islam and eat beef. When they refused, they were slaughtered and their houses torched. It took security forces 10 hours to even hear of the incident, and over 48 hours for police to reach the scene, which was described as a “ghost area” filled with beheaded bodies.
2000 Chittisinghpura Sikh Massacre
On March 20, 2000, 36 Sikh men were killed in Chittisinghpura, Anantnag, by terrorists disguised as Army personnel. They herded the men inside two Gurudwaras and gunned them down. The massacre occurred just hours before then-US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India.
2000–2002 Serial Attacks on Amarnath Yatra
Between August 1–2, 2000, five coordinated attacks killed 89+ people, including Hindu pilgrims, security personnel, and migrant workers.
In 2001, terrorists attacked Sheshnag Lake, killing 8 pilgrims and 2 security forces.
In 2002, another massacre by al-Mansuriyan (a Lashkar-e-Taiba front) left 9 Hindu pilgrims dead.
In 2017, terrorists again attacked a bus en route to the cave shrine, killing 8 pilgrims and injuring 19 others.
2003 Nandimarg Massacre
On March 23, 2003, 24 Kashmiri Pandits — including 11 women and 2 children — were pulled out of their homes and shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists dressed as Indian soldiers in Pulwama’s Nandimarg village.
2006 Doda Massacre
On April 30, 2006, 54 Hindus were killed in two separate attacks by Lashkar-e-Taiba in Doda and Udhampur. In Doda, 22 Hindus, including a 3-year-old girl, were lined up and shot. The postmortem doctor suffered a heart attack due to the gruesome condition of the bodies. In Udhampur’s Lalon Galla, 35 Hindu shepherds were abducted and executed.
2021 Selective Killing of Teachers in Srinagar
On October 7, 2021, terrorists entered a school in Srinagar and selectively separated non-Muslim teachers. Principal Satinder Kaur (Sikh) and teacher Deepak Chand (Kashmiri Pandit) were shot at point-blank range. Muslim staff members were spared.
2025 Pahalgam Attack on Hindu Tourists
On April 22, 2025, Islamic terrorists launched yet another attack targeting Hindu tourists in Pahalgam. This ghastly assault follows the same old pattern — Hindus being targeted for their identity, and the same old defenders ready with excuses.
Despite such a long and bloody trail of attacks — all pointedly directed at Hindus and other non-Muslim communities — the religious motivation is conveniently brushed under the carpet in the mainstream discourse. The media continues to focus on “why security failed” or “how the attackers came in,” but never dares to ask why Hindus are so frequently and specifically targeted.
What’s worse is how the terror apologist lobby tries to exploit instances of symbolic gestures — like candle marches or isolated condemnations — to push the “Bhaichara” narrative, effectively gaslighting the victims of such communal hate.
Until we, as a nation, confront the religious ideology that drives these terror attacks and stop hiding behind euphemisms, there will be more Pahalgams, more Wandhamas, and more Dodas. Pretending that this has “nothing to do with religion” is not just dishonest — it’s dangerous.
ALSO READ: “Has Pakistan Pushed Itself to the Brink? India’s Bold Moves Expose Islamabad’s Collapse”
Comments