Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI/ JAMMU, Oct 22: Displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir today observed Black Day as a mark of protest and anguish against the tribal raid carried out by Pakistan on them in Muzaffarabad district of J&K State on October 22, 1947, when thousands of innocent Hindus and Sikhs were subjected to genocide, rape, abduction and plunder by the attackers.
A large number of PoK DPs, under the banner of SOS International – an organization of PoK displaced persons, assembled at Jantar-Mantar, New Delhi and held a peaceful demonstration to mark the day amidst slogans and speeches highlighting grievances of the displaced community. The agitating DPs were tying black ribbon on their arms and hanging slogans written placards around their neck as a mark of protest.
A number of PoK DPs, who had been set up temporarily by the then Government of India in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and other States, also took part in the demonstration, which was held under the leadership of SOS Chairman, Rajiv Chuni.
The aggrieved DPs also mutilated an effigy of Pakistan to show their anguish against the neighbouring country, which is the root cause of their displacement from homes and hearths besides continues human rights violations of the lakhs of displaced families.
Chuni said that till the vacation of PoK the following things should be done on priority by the Government of India to safeguard the interests of this destitute community living in exile for the last more than 7 decades.
The DPs of 1947 from PoK in a gathering held at Poonch under the chairmanship of Tarlok Singh Tara, president Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee (JKSAC) district Poonch, observed Oct 22 as Martyrs Day.
Addressing the gathering Tarlok Singh said that on this fateful day the DPs of 1947 from PoK had to leave their native places from Poonch, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and other areas as the Pakistani regular Army in the guise of tribals and with the help of locals throw them out forcibly from the places. Their women folks were kidnapped and raped and were taken away in front of their eyes. Thousands of people of all ages were killed and their properties were looted and burnt. He termed it as most unfortunate that the people who suffered the brunt of this inhuman genocide after migration to this side of Kashmir fell prey to the conspiracy of Valley centric dispensations of the state .
MJR-47, Movement for Justice from Refugees of 1947 from POJK organized a memorial seminar in the auditorium of Ranjeet College of Education, Jammu to pay respectful homage to all innocent people who laid down their lives in the tribal raid of 1947 on the state.
Charanjeet Singh Khalsa, Ex- MLC who is also founder of MJR-47 presided over the function. Daya Sagar, senior journalist was the chief guest and Prof Himmat Singh Patiala was the guest of honour. Daya Sagar in a key-address highlighted the issues and measures proposed to be taken by Govt for assuaging the sufferings of DPs of 1947 and to give justice to them. Ex-MLC Prof Himmat Singh and other speakers also talked on the issues and demands of DPs and endorsed the views given by Daya Sagar.
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