14-Sep-1989, a usual morning for Pandit Tika Lal Taploo, fondly known as Lalaji, a staunch nationalist, social worker, swayamsevak & BJP (J&K) vice president.
This is about the fateful day when it all triggered the 7th exodus of #KashmiriPandits.
#TheKashmirFiles
1/
A 59 yrs old senior lawyer by profession, Lalaji was heading to work at High Court. As soon as he stepped out of his residence at Bhan Mohalla Srinagar, he saw a crying little girl of a Musl!m neighbor. Lalaji took the child in arm, walked through next door to her mother
2/
& inquired friendly. The mother said the child is crying for some stationery stuff. Lalaji affectionately handed over a bill of Rs.5 to the child & headed back to his work.
He could barely walk a few meters when he was confronted by three men with wrapped faces.
3/
One of them approached Lalaji, took out his weapon, and pulled the trigger. 8 rounds fire non-stop pierced Lalaji's body, leaving him dead on spot almost outside his home. The spinechilling day light murder of popular & fierce Hindu leader shook entire region.
4/
Objective- hit the backbone of resistance, rest will follow the fate.
Thousands of ppl across identities attended the tearful funeral of beloved leader, including then BJP pres LK Advani & others.
Some M radicals stone the processesion, some kept the shops shut in respect.
5/
Lion-heart Lalaji was known for his ethics, courage & integrity, has been jailed many times before, including a tortuous term during the Emergency.
Lalaji knew the threat to his life so he left his family in Delhi & came back to Kashmir on 8th Sept.
6/
On 12th Sept he did not just escape an attack at his residence but challenged back attackers by coming openly out of the home.
He stood rock-solid in front of J!had!sts, fought bravely and that's what made him to top in the hit-list & first among lacs of KPs.
7/
As per a news report that time, notorious terror!st Javed Ahmed Mir a.k.a Javed Nalka was suspected to be behind Taploo's murder. Nalka, who shot 4 IAF officers and during Yasin Malik's jail in the early 90th, became de facto leader of the JKLF.
8/
Few weeks later on 4Nov Justice (rtd) Ganjoo was shot dead & in a month on 8Dec, Rubaiya Sayeed d/o then HM Mufti Md Sayeed abducted by JKLF in exchange for imprisoned one. With incompetent leadership in J&K, the events kept unfolding till genoc!de & exodus of KPs in jan'90.
9/
Lalaji was a strong nationalist and probably the last upright Hindu leader in the valley. He knew what was coming but didn't leave his ppl alone & never surrendered to J!hadis. Wish, there were more Tika Lal Taploo in that time of govt.
A heartfelt tribute to martyr Lalaji🙏
10/
In this scene of #TheKashmirFiles Anupam Kher is carrying picture of Tika Lal Taploo (encircled).
11/
The similar MO followed by KhaIistani terror¡st by assassinating Lala Jagat Narain, strong Hindu leader in Punjab that time.
2 coincidence,
That was also September, and popular leader fondly called Lalaji.
12/
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.