2001 Kot Charwal massacre
2001 Kot Charwal massacre was the killing of 15 ethnic-Bakarwals by Islamic militants in the village of Chalwalkote, in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, India on 9 February 2001.[1][2][3]
| Kot Charwal Massacre | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kot Charwal, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Date | 9 February 2001 |
| Target | Bakarwals |
Attack type | Mass murder |
| Deaths | 15 |
| Perpetrators | Lashkar-e-Taiba |
Background
A violent insurgency has been going on in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989. The militants had intermittently massacred villagers who did not support their cause. The state government had supplied arms to the villagers who had formed Village Defence Committees (VDC) so that they could protect themselves from the militants. The militants suspected the villagers to be informants for Indian Army.
The attack
The militants came at night and initially asked the villagers to hand over the female members of the village for satisfying their sexual urges. When the villagers resisted this they were attacked.[4] The terrorists came then bolted the house of Abdullah Remo and Bashir Abdullah. Then they lobbed a grenade inside before setting the house on fire.[5] Of the 15 charred bodies which were recovered seven were of children, the youngest one being only four years old.[6]
Aftermath
Chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah condemned the killings.[4]
References
- The Kot Charwal carnage[Usurped!], Frontline, 16 March 2001
- Militants massacre 15 villagers in Rajouri, The Times of India, 11 February 2001
- Opinion by Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda | How Bakarwals Helped Indian Army in Operation Sarp Vinash, News18 India 21 April 2018
- 15 members of 3 nomad families massacred, Daily Excelsior, (11 February 2001). Retrieved 24 March 2009. Archived 14 May 2009.
- At Least 25 Dead In Attacks In Kashmir, Islamonline.net
- Ultras massacre 15 in Rajouri, The Tribune (11 February 2001)