14 September 1989, the day Kashmiri Hindu Tika Lal Taploo was killed by the Islamist terrorists in Kashmir valley
| 14-Sep-2022 |
On September 14, 1989, Tika Lal Taploo became the first target amongst many Kashmiri Hindus who were killed by the Islamist terrorists in Kashmir during vicious period of 1989-90. Taploo was shot dead in broad day light by the terrorists and it's believed that his brutal killing led to the exodus of Kashmir Hindus from the Kashmir valley.
It's been 33 years and like many others who have been through that time and have lost their nears and dears in the hands of Islamist terrorists, his family also still awaits justice and to commemorate the death of T.K Taploo, this day is also observed as Martyrdom Day by the Kashmiri Hindus.
Born on 6 October 1930,Tika Lal Taploo was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and an Advocate in Kashmir High Court.He was an active & long-time member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). During the Emergency imposed by the then PM Indira Gandhi in 1975, Taploo led the fight against it in the valley where he participated in the agitation at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Taploo' s influence, political alliance, and popularity was unmatched among the Kashmiri Hindus and Muslim communities. He was admired as the most significant Kashmiri Hindu leader in the valley.
A fearless leader who was keenly active with the social work and worked for the fights of common people. He lived in Habba Kadal Constituency, which was dominated by Muslims. Still, he was loved and admired by the majority of the people in the constituency.
He was popularly known as 'Laalaji' and had garnered huge following amongst both the Hindu and Muslim communities. It's also believed that his huge popularity among the common masses beyond the shackles of communities irked the terrorists who were trying to radicalise the Kashmir valley.
Days before his murder, sensing trouble, he took his family to Delhi and left them there to ensure their safety. On September 8, 1989, he returned to the valley. Just four days later, he was attacked at his residence in Chinkral Mohalla on September 12, 1989. He escaped the attack unhurt.
On 14 September,1989, when he was heading to the High Court, he noticed a crying little girl of a Muslim neighbour. He enquired and found out that the child was crying for some stationery. He handed over Rs 5 with a broad smile and left for work. He barely walked a few meters when three men with covered faces confronted him. One of them approached Taploo, took out his weapon, and before anyone around could react, Taploo was shot dead. They fired eight rounds non-stop.
The news of his death spread like wildfire, and the entire nation was in shock. Top leaders including LK Advani, Kedar Nath Sahni and others attended the funeral procession. There were hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Hindus in the procession to pay respect to the beloved Kashmiri Hindu leader. His killing was an everlasting blow to the Kashmiri Hindu community which started with his death and continues even till today in which thousands of Kashmiri Hindus have been brutally murdered by the Islamist terrorists while lakhs have left the valley as Islamists terrorists called for them to convert, leave or be killed.
Tika Lal Taploo's death was ensued by the killing of Nilkanth Ganjoo, Srinagar District Sessions Judge, who had sentenced Maqbul Bhat to death by hanging. Bhat was a terrorist and founder of the National Liberation Front.