In November, the Indian government approved the increased development of Hindu-only settlements throughout the Kashmir valley. On the heels of India's recent confirmation of Kashmir’s revoked special status, journalist Nevin Kallepalli's reporting examines the relationship between these new Hindu townships and the local Muslim populace.
Hindu settlements vary in form: Some are designated for Hindu Pandit families who were ethnically cleansed from their homes in the 1990s, many house low-wage laborers from other parts of India contracted by Indian developers, while others are occupied by non-Kashmiri military and government personnel.
Ultimately, this influx of Hindus comprises a tactical plan to remake the demography of the valley all while the Indian army maintains the most heavily manned military occupation of any place in the world.
