View source for 2003 Nadimarg massacre

{{Short description|Massacre of Kashmiri Hindus in March 2003}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title      = Nadimarg Massacre 
| image      = 
| caption    = 
| location   = Nadimarg, [[Pulwama District|Pulwama]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|33.7446|75.0121|display=inline,title}}
| target     = [[Kashmiri Pandit]]s
| date       = 23 March 2003
| time       = 
| timezone   = 
| type       = [[Mass murder]]
| motive     = [[Islamist Terrorism]]
| fatalities = 24
| injuries   = 
| perps      = [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]
}}
'''2003 Nadimarg massacre''' was the killing of 24 [[Kashmiri Pandits]] in the village of Nadimarg in [[Pulwama District]] of Jammu and Kashmir State by Kashmiri Muslim militants from the group, [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] on 23 March 2003.<ref name="Singh2020">{{cite book | author = Surmukh Singh | date = 26 March 2020 | title = Terror Network | publisher = BlueRose Publishers | page = 72 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lQXZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA72}}</ref><ref>
[http://www.dawn.com/2003/03/25/top8.htm Kashmir killing stokes tension], ''Dawn'', 25 March 2003. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025084146/http://www.dawn.com/2003/03/25/top8.htm |date=25 October 2010 }}
</ref><ref name=latimes>
[http://articles.latimes.com/2003/mar/30/news/adfg-indiakill30 Kashmir Massacre Shakes Village’s Sense of Fraternity], ''Los Angeles Times'', 30 March 2003. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928085145/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/mar/30/news/adfg-indiakill30 |date=28 September 2012 }}
</ref><ref>
[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/24-hindus-are-shot-dead-in-kashmiri-village.html 24 Hindus Are Shot Dead in Kashmiri Village], ''The New York Times'', 24 March 2003. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081401/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/24-hindus-are-shot-dead-in-kashmiri-village.html |date=11 February 2017 }}
</ref>
{{Violence against Hindus in independent India}}

==Background==
{{Main|Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus}}
In early 1990, faced by the rising [[Kashmir insurgency]] and fearing persecution and physical harm, the majority of Kashmiri Hindus, who are called [[Kashmiri Pandits]], fled the [[Kashmir Valley]] to makeshift camps across [[Jammu division]]. Small numbers remained within the Valley.

==The attack==
Armed Islamic militants came dressed in counterfeit military uniforms to Nadimarg, near [[Shopian]] in the [[Pulwama district]].<ref>
Amy Waldman, [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/25/world/kashmir-massacre-may-signal-the-coming-of-widespread-violence.html Kashmir Massacre May Signal the Coming of Widespread Violence], ''The New York Times'', 25 March 2003. {{ProQuest|92698458}}, {{ProQuest|2230066200}}
</ref><ref>
[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,438936,00.html Grief, Again], ''TIME'', 31 March 2003. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120173347/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,438936,00.html |date=20 January 2011 }}
</ref> The attack took place between 11&nbsp;pm and midnight.<ref>
{{citation |url=http://www.publicinternationallaw.org/docs/PNW3/PNW.24March_03.htm#Kashmir |title=24 Hindus killed in Indian Kashmir |newspaper=[[Agence France-Presse]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809084531/http://www.publicinternationallaw.org/docs/PNW3/PNW.24March_03.htm#Kashmir |archive-date=9 August 2007 |url-status=dead |date=24 March 2003}}
</ref> Victims included 11 men, 11 women, and two small boys who were lined up and shot and killed by the gunmen.<ref>
[https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2003/33773.htm Appendix A – Chronology of Significant International Terrorist Incidents, 2003 (Revised 6/22/04)], Patterns of Global Terrorism, 2003. United States Department of State. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060501144904/http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2003/33773.htm |date=1 May 2006}}
</ref> The victims ranged from a 65-year-old man to a 2-year-old boy.<ref name=latimes/>

==Perpetrators==
The perpetrators belonged to the internationally-designated terrorist organization [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] and were led by their self-styled 'commander' Zia Mustafa.<ref name="IE curtain">
{{citation |author=Nirupama Subramanian |title=Zia Mustafa killing all but pulls curtain down on Nadimarg Pandit massacre |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=25 October 2021 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/zia-mustafa-killing-all-but-pulls-curtain-down-on-nadimarg-pandit-massacre-7588749/}}
</ref> He was arrested in 2003 and held in prison. In October 2021, Mustafa was taken out of jail by security forces to identify militant hideouts in a forest in [[Poonch (town)|Poonch]]. However, in the subsequent encounter with the militants, he was killed in cross-fire.<ref name="IE curtain"/>

==The aftermath==
Three other [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] militants suspected to be responsible for this massacre were gunned down by Mumbai police on 29 March 2003.<ref>
[http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=20148 Suspected of Nadimarg killers gunned down in Mumbai], ''The Indian Express'', 29 March 2003. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920174456/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=20148 |date=20 September 2012 }}
</ref> Another [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] Militant suspected of participating in the massacre was arrested in April 2003.<ref>
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023043814/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-04-10/india/27288190_1_arbaz-alias-abdullah-umar-massacre-suri LeT militant involved in Nadimarg massacre held], ''The Times of India'', 10 April 2003
</ref> [[Christina Rocca]], then the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, argued for the need for US to remain "actively and effectively engaged", pointing out to this massacre.<ref>
[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/atrocity-heightens-tension-in-kashmir-592793.html Atrocity heightens tensions in Kashmir], ''The Independent'', 30 March 2003. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025165636/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/atrocity-heightens-tension-in-kashmir-592793.html |date=25 October 2012 }}
</ref> In an editorial in Pakistan's ''Dawn'', Kunwar Idris criticised the massacre and said "Pundits are children of no lesser god that two hundred thousand of them should be driven out of their homes and the remaining few should be left to die a gruesome death."<ref>
[http://www.dawn.com/2003/03/30/op.htm#2 The murder of Pundits], ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]'', 30 March 2003. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025092149/http://www.dawn.com/2003/03/30/op.htm#2 |date=25 October 2010 }}
</ref> [[Chris Patten]] European Commissioner for External Relations and United Nations Secretary-General [[Kofi Annan]] also condemned the massacre.<ref>
{{Cite web |title=Patten Offers Condolences After Kashmir Massacre |newspaper=Europa World |date=28 March 2003  |url=http://www.europaworld.org/week122/pattenoffers28303.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030418173448/http://www.europaworld.org/week122/pattenoffers28303.htm |archive-date=18 April 2003 |url-status=dead}}
</ref> India accused [[Pakistan]] of being involved in this massacre and said that it would deal with [[Pakistan]] with strength and resolve.<ref>
[https://archive.today/20110522164832/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2003-03/a-2003-03-26-60-India.cfm India: Cross-Border Terrorism Infrastructure Must Be Dismantled], [[Voice of America]], 26 March 2003
</ref> The police issued an arrest warrant in the Nadimarg massacre case, naming Zai Mustafa, alias Abdullah of [[Rawalkote]], Pakistan.<ref>
[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/209-kashmiri-pandits-killed-since-1989-say-jk-cops-in-first-report/305457/ 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed since 1989, say J-K cops in first report], ''The Indian Express'', 5 May 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308022919/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/209-kashmiri-pandits-killed-since-1989-say-jk-cops-in-first-report/305457 |date=8 March 2013 }}
</ref>
Intercepts by the intelligence agencies point out that there was a possible involvement of the [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] and the [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] groups which have been operating in the Shupian area.{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}}

The then chief minister [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]] promised increased police protection -  however, the few remaining terror stricken Kashmiri Pandits decided to leave the area.{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}}

The [[Ambassadors of the United States|US Ambassador]] to India [[Robert D. Blackwill]] condemned the massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and said [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] "look forward to the terrorists being brought to justice swiftly".{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}}

The US Secretary of State [[Colin Powell|Powell]] and British foreign minister [[Jack Straw|Straw]] issued a joint statement of 27 March 2003 and condemned the Nadimarg massacre, urged respect for the Line of Control, called on [[Pakistan]] to end infiltration across it and urged Pakistan to do its utmost to discourage acts of violence by militants in J&K.<ref>{{cite news |author=G. Parthasarathy |title=Terrorism is the core issue |newspaper=The Pioneer |date=8 May 2003 |url=http://meaindia.nic.in/opinion/2003/05/08o02.htm  |via=meaindia.nic.in |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113182531/http://meaindia.nic.in/opinion/2003/05/08o02.htm |archive-date=13 January 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
* 2022: The climax of Hindi movie [[The Kashmir Files]], written and directed by [[Vivek Agnihotri]], is based on the massacre. The movie shows Islamic militants lining up 24 Kashmiri Hindus in Nadimarg and shooting all of them, including a baby.

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Pravin Swami, [https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30216640.ece The Nadimarg outrage], Frontline, 25 April 2003.
* Safwat Zargar, [https://scroll.in/article/1009536/the-death-of-a-pakistani-militant-near-loc-leaves-lingering-questions-about-a-massacre-in-kashmir The death of a Pakistani militant near LoC leaves lingering questions about a massacre in Kashmir], Scroll.in, 2 November 2021.

==External links==
* [http://kashmirherald.com/apr2003/nadimarg.html Photographs of the Tragedy]
* [http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/24jk.htm 24 Pandits killed in Kashmir], [[Rediff.com]], 24 March 2003. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007035318/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/24jk.htm |date=7 October 2008 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nadimarg Massacre}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=21st-century mass murder in India, Massacres in 2003, Human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir, Terrorist incidents in India in 2003, Islamic terrorism in India, 2003 in India, Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir, Pulwama district, 2000s in Jammu and Kashmir, Violence against Hindus in India, Islamic terrorist incidents in 2003, March 2003 events in India, Persecution of Hindus, Persecution by Muslims, Religiously motivated violence in India, Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir, Islamic terrorism in India, Massacres of Hindus in Kashmir
|description=
}}

[[Category:21st-century mass murder in India]]
[[Category:Massacres in 2003]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2003]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:2003 in India]]
[[Category:Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Pulwama district]]
[[Category:2000s in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Violence against Hindus in India]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2003]]
[[Category:March 2003 events in India]]
[[Category:Persecution of Hindus]]
[[Category:Persecution by Muslims]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Massacres of Hindus in Kashmir]]