When the killers did not spare even Hindu shop owners while carrying out assassinations

 

 

 

 

In the 90s-decade, Kashmiri Hindus were terrified and threatened due to the separatist movement in the valley. It was a hopeless time as the Muslim neighbours of the Pandits were sharing the same ideology as of the militants. Hatred and violence had gone to an extent that Muslim counterparts of the Hindus were only eyeing on their properties and other assets. Most Kashmiri Pandits were unaware of this mixed treason against them.

 

 

 

 

One such target was Durga Nath Rafiz, a resident of Jawahar Nagar area who was also a Sub-Inspector in Border Security Force and was posted at Pantachowk. His house at Jawahar Nagar had three shops, two of them were already let out and the third one was to let. A Muslim man contacted him for tenancy of the shop that was locked up. Durga Nath out of good faith unlocked the shop for the person who wished to have a look at it. Mutual agreement was set, and the man agreed to be the tenant of the shop. However, to pay the advance money the muslim tenant fixed another day and Durga Nath too blindly believed him and agreed to it.

 

 

On 3rd June 1992, though the Muslim tenant showed up but he asked Durga Nath to escort him to his house instead, as he couldn't bring the money along being afraid of miscreants roaming around. Innocent Durga Nath couldn't think of the evil plan behind the plot and got trapped into it. The brutal killings of Pandits had already touched a new benchmark. Though Durga Nath accompanied the tenant to his alleged house but never returned alive from there. Following this, only his dead body was found at Badshah Nagar near Natipora. His tongue was chopped off, his skull was bored with a sharp object in the neck. Above all, the most shocking part was that the same Muslim who led him into the death trap was also reported to have occupied the same shop.