Washington, DC [US], April 28 (ANI): The Indian American community in the United States is in mourning following the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepalese national, on April 22. A gathering of several dozen people, with heads bowed and flowers in hand, took place at the National Monument in Washington, DC, as mourners honored the victims in a silent procession.
Among the mourners was Priya, a resident of the DC Metropolitan area, who expressed her grief while holding up a photograph of one of the victims. Reflecting on the long history of suffering faced by Kashmiri Hindus, she said, “I want to make sure the world finally acknowledges what has been happening to Kashmiri Hindus for decades.” She recalled the terrifying days when Kashmiri Hindus were forced to leave their homes and the brutal violence they endured.
The DMV area, encompassing Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, saw several vigils, prayer meetings, and candlelight gatherings in the wake of the attack. The participants, holding both Indian and American flags, walked side by side, united in their grief over the tragedy that struck far from home.
Dr. Mohan Sapru, another protester, emphasized that the gathering aimed to “awaken the conscience of humanity and America” following the attack in Pahalgam. “We Kashmiris, as well as all Hindu communities, are gathering here to mourn the massacre of Hindus,” he said.
For many attendees, the Pahalgam attack felt personal, even though it occurred thousands of miles away. One participant shared, “Hindus were targeted and killed… it was horrible… It is high time now to speak up against this.”
Swapna Raina, a Kashmiri Pandit, spoke about her family’s trauma, recalling how her grandfather was targeted and shot for being a Hindu. She said, “April 22 brought back a lot of nightmares. We Kashmiri Hindus are reliving the horrific incidents that happened over the decades. We were asked to either convert to Islam, run away, or be ready to die.”
Raina also highlighted the continued struggles of Kashmiri Hindus, many of whom had to flee their homes under similar threats decades ago. “Our heart bleeds,” she said. “We are still being asked to prove that it actually happened to us.”
The vigil was a call for acknowledgment and justice for the Kashmiri Hindu community, as participants raised awareness of the ongoing violence and the suffering of those caught in the conflict. The attack in Pahalgam, near Baisaran Meadow, marked one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years, and it serves as a stark reminder of the long-standing challenges faced by the Kashmiri Hindu community.
The terror attack has sparked an international outcry, with calls for peace and respect for all faiths, hoping to prevent further violence in the region.
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