The 2002 Qasim Nagar massacre was the killing of 29

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

labourers in Qasim Nagar on the outskirts of Jammu city in the erstwhile Indian state of

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...

by militants

Background

Killings of civilians had been intermittent but regular feature of the Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. Several prior incidents like

Gawkadal massacre The Gawkadal massacre was named after the Gawkadal bridge in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (state), Jammu and Kashmir, India, where, on 21 January 1990, the Indian paramilitary troops of the Central Reserve Police Force opened fire on a group of ...

, Handwara massacre and

Hawal massacre The 1990 Hawal Massacre was named after the Hawal area of Srinagar, Kashmir, where, on 21 May 1990, the Indian paramilitary troops of the Central Reserve Police Force opened fire on the peaceful funeral procession which was carrying the bod ...

are some of the brutal ones.

The attack

On 13 July 2002, around 8 pm, up to eight suspected militants walked into the Qasimnagar slum on the outskirts of Jammu Disguised as Hindu holy men. They then threw three or four grenades before opening fire with automatic weapons ( AK-47s). Within minutes 24 people, all Hindus were dead. Three more died later in hospital and at least 30 were injured, some critically. The dead included 13 women and a child. The gunmen escaped into the thickly wooded hills nearby. The victims were listening to the commentary of Indian-England cricket match. There was a power cut at that time and many had gathered around a radio to listen to

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

commentary being broadcast live from

Lord's Cricket Ground Lord's Cricket Ground, commonly known as Lord's, is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and ...

. Most of those killed were very poor labourers who lived in makeshift sheds fabricated from discarded apple crates. The dead included two blind beggars, 13 women and one child.

Aftermath

On 15 July, a complete bandh was observed in Jammu in protest against the incident. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned the massacre saying "Terrorism be it in Jammu, Kashmir or anywhere else only serves to renew the determination of the free world to fight this evil. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who suffered". United States, Britain, and France also condemned the weekend attack. US Secretary of State

Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African ...

spoke to External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and condemned the massacre which he described as a "terrorist act". The State Department also released one-para statement on behalf of Mr Powell saying:

I condemn the vicious killing of over 20 persons in Jammu yesterday. The people of this region deserve peace and development, not the suffering imposed upon them by terrorist thugs who are beyond the pale of the civilised world. The perpetrators of this heinous act are proving once again that they do not have the interest of the Kashmiri people at heart, but rather seek to undermine efforts to ease tensions in the region.

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a communication with the Ministry of External Affairs here, said:

The present terrorist act in Jammu and Kashmir like yesterday's attack on a group of foreign tourists in the north of Pakistan form part of the same chain of international terrorism which present today a major threat to peace and security, including in South Asia. We emphasise that the first step in ending terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is the consistent implementation of commitments given by the Government of Pakistan for preventing activities of terrorist groups on the territory under its control.

Arrests

The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police said that "Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba" is responsible for the attack. Subsequently, Indian Police arrested Mohammad Abdullah alias Abu Talah of Lashkar-e-Taiba in connection with this massacre. Seven more militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba were arrested later.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Qasim Nagar Massacre 21st-century mass murder in India Massacres in 2002 Persecution of Hindus Persecution by Muslims Mass shootings in India Terrorist incidents in India in 2002 Islamic terrorism in India 2002 in India Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir Violence against Hindus in India Islamic terrorist incidents in 2002 July 2002 events in India 2002 mass shootings in Asia 2002 murders in India Massacres of Hindus in Kashmir Kashmir conflict

Background

The attack

Aftermath

Arrests

See also

References