Nadimarg, Pulwama, March 23, 2025 – In a deeply emotional gathering, dozens of Kashmiri Pandits returned to Nadimarg village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district to honour the victims of the horrific 2003 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist attack. On this day 22 years ago, 24 Kashmiri Pandits – including men, women, and children – were brutally massacred in a late-night assault that shattered the peace of this once-harmonious village, where Pandits and local Muslims had lived side by side for generations.
The tribute marks a significant moment for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, as it is the first time since the tragedy that they have held the memorial ceremony in Nadimarg itself, rather than in Jammu, where many fled following the violence. The 2003 attack, known as the Nadimarg Massacre, saw LeT terrorists, disguised in military uniforms, storm the village, drag residents from their homes, and execute them in cold blood. The incident remains a stark symbol of the targeted violence that drove much of the Pandit community from the Kashmir Valley.
“For years, we paid our respects in exile, but today we stand here in our village to remember the martyrs,” he said. The event saw participation from both Kashmiri Pandits and local Muslims, reflecting a shared grief and a rejection of the terror that sought to divide them.
The deserted homes of Nadimarg, many still bearing the scars of that fateful night, stood as a backdrop to the ceremony, held under tight security. The commemoration comes amid renewed efforts to reconnect the Pandit community with their roots, exemplified by the reopening of the Arde Nareshwar Temple in the village in October 2024 – a site shuttered since the massacre.
The Nadimarg Massacre, attributed to the Pakistan-based LeT, remains etched in memory as a grim chapter of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. Today’s tribute by the Kashmiri Pandits not only honored the lives lost but also underscored their enduring spirit, as they seek to reclaim their heritage in Nadimarg despite decades of displacement and trauma.