'Just one Kashmiri Pandit family returned to Valley in over two decades'

Jammu: Despite the assurances given by both the Centre and state governments and several voices backing the rehabilitation of those who left their homes during insurgency in the Valley, only one Kashmiri Pandit family has returned to its native abode in the past 25 years, claims a report.

According to a report in the Times of India, PDP-led J&K government has told the Supreme Court that only one Kashimri Pandit family has returned to the Valley in the last 25 years.

In its affidavit filed through advocate Sunil Fernandes, the J&K government has said that there has been no significant development in the return of displaced Pandits in the Valley.

"In furtherance of the return and rehabilitation scheme for Kashmiri migrants, the government has taken various initiatives, including inviting applications from those interested in returning to the Valley. In this regard, the government has so far received 6,510 applications but due to lack of consensus among the migrants and their family members, only one family has returned to the valley under the said package," the TOI quoted the excerpt from the affidavit.

The J&K government had filed the affidavit after the Apex court had questioned it about the development in implementing the rehabilitation packages for the Pandits.

The court also asked the state if something is being done about the properties of Pandits which were illegally sold off after they flee from Kashmir between 1990-97.

In its assurance to the court, the government had earlier said that properties auctioned between 1990 to 1997 would be declared "illegal" and restored to owners.