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{{Short description|Mass killings in Jammu & Kashmir, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2001 Kishtwar massacres
| image = Jammu and Kashmir Kishtwar district.svg
| caption = Location of Kishtwar District in Jammu and Kashmir, India
| location = [[Kishtwar District]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India
| motive = [[Islamic terrorism]]
|target = [[Hindu]]s
| date = May–August 2001
| fatalities = 43
| injuries = 5
| perps = [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]
}}

A series of massacres of [[Pahari people (Kashmir)|Pahari]]-[[Hindus]] in May–August 2001 by [[Islamic terrorists]] took place in the erstwhile [[Doda district]] (present-day [[Kishtwar district]]) of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India, wherein 43 Hindus were killed.<ref name=SATP>{{cite web |url=https://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/data_sheets/massacres.htm |title=Major Massacres by Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir |work=South Asia Terrorism Portal}}</ref><ref name=Swami>{{cite magazine |date=18 August 2001 |last=Swami |first=Praveen |url= https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30251542.ece/ |title= DISTURBED DODA |magazine=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] |volume=18 |issue=17}}</ref><ref name=Tribune>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010805/main1.htm|title=Ultras massacre 17 in Doda|work=The Tribune|date=5 August 2001}}</ref> The massacres took place at villages and temporary summer camps called ''dhok''s in remote meadows used by local shepherds.<ref name=TOI>{{cite web |last=Sharma |first=Sant Kumar |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/land-dispute-led-to-kishtwar-massacre/articleshow/1630110123.cms# |date=30 November 2001 |title=Land dispute led to Kishtwar massacre |work=[[Times of India]]}}</ref> The massacres were committed by members of [[Lashkar-e-Toiba]],<ref name=Swami/> a Pakistan-based terrorist group. One massacre is believed to have been instigated by local Muslim shepherd tenants involved in a dispute over the pastures.<ref name=TOI/> The massacres triggered tensions across the [[Jammu region]].<ref name=Rediff>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/aug/04jk.htm|title=Militants massacre 15 Hindu villagers in Doda|work=Rediff|date=4 August 2001}}</ref>

==Background==
An [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|armed insurgency]] began in the former state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in northern India in 1989. Several Islamic militant groups were active in the insurgency, and many massacres of Hindus were committed by militants and terrorists in the region, especially in the late 1990s onward.<ref>{{citation |last=Bose |first=Sumantra |author-link=Sumantra Bose |title=Kashmir at the Crossroads: Inside a 21st-Century Conflict |year=2021 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=978-0-300-26271-1 |page=126}}</ref>

==Massacres==
The first massacre happened on 10 May 2001 at [[Atholi, Kishtwar|Atholi]] village, in which seven Hindus were killed.<ref name=Swami/><ref name=Tribune/> The second massacre happened on 21 July 2001 at Cheerji in Kishtwar in which 15 Hindus were killed.<ref name=SATP/> In the third incident at Tagood the next day, four more Hindu villagers were killed.<ref name=SATP/><ref name=Swami/> A fourth mass killing took place at Shrotidhar on 2 August 2001, in which 17 more Hindus were killed,<ref name=Tribune/> thereby bringing the total number of killed to 43. The shepherds killed at Shrotidhar belonged to village Ladder, and were from the Rajput and Dalit castes. The shepherds were lined up and shot dead by the terrorists. Some shepherds survived by fleeing the scene and others played dead and hid among the dead bodies.<ref name=Swami/> A further five villagers were seriously injured in the attack.<ref name=Rediff/> All four massacres took place in Hindu-majority [[Paddar]] valley.

==Aftermath==
The last rites of the victims of the Shrotidhar massacre were held in Atholi. The ceremony saw some violence and vandalism.<ref name=Swami/> A complete bandh was observed in [[Jammu]] the following day in protest. Groups of demonstrators protesting against the Kishtwar carnage torched Pakistani flags and effigies of [[Pervez Musharraf]] in Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010807/main3.htm|title=Complete bandh in Jammu areas|work=The Tribune|date=6 August 2001|first=M.L.|last=Kak}}</ref> Mujib-ur-Rahman, a commander of the [[Lashkar-e-Toiba]] involved in the massacres, was shot dead by police in Doda on 6 August. Another commander was killed by the police five days later.<ref name=Swami/>

Following the massacres, the centre and state governments promised to set up dhok defence committees (DDCs) on the pattern of [[Village Defence Guards|village defence committees]] (VDCs), to protect shepherds from militant attacks.<ref name=TOI/> Home Minister L.K. Advani, also promised new laws to help end violence against vulnerable Hindu communities. On August 9, the state government ordered the imposition of the Disturbed Areas Act in the districts of Doda, Udhampur, Jammu and Kathua.<ref name=Swami/>

These killings were subsequently discussed in Indian parliament with opposition criticizing the Government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2001/08/07/stories/0207000j.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050524050144/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2001/08/07/stories/0207000j.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2005|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Doda killings find echo in Parliament|date=1 August 2001}}</ref>

== See also ==
[[List of terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Kashmir conflict}}
{{coord missing|Jammu and Kashmir}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kishtwar massacres, 2001}}
[[Category:Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Massacres of Hindus in Kashmir]]
[[Category:Massacres in 2001]]
[[Category:2001 murders in India]]
[[Category:2000s in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:21st-century mass murders in India]]
[[Category:August 2001 in India]]
[[Category:August 2001 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:Lashkar-e-Taiba attacks]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2001]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2001]]
[[Category:Doda district]]

2001 Kishtwar massacres - Revision history

House of Dontics at 08:11, 14 December 2025