Sammer Koul. a Kashmiri Hindu who left his home here more than seven years ago and now lives in New Delhi, does not want to return to the land of his birth.

"My house In Kashmir has been burnt down. My children are studying in Delhi. I don't want to see them suffer like me." he said A prosperous businessman In Kashmir, he now works for a private firm in Delhi.

He Is firm that he will not return to Kashmir "even if I am given hundreds of thousands of rupees." "I am happy with my meagre Income in Delhi. At least my future generation Is safe." he said

Several Kashmiri Pandits, as the Hindus there called and who are now revisiting the Valley. have one goal - to sell off their properties In Kashmir which are surprisingly fetching a high price. In Srinagar's main commercial centre Lal Chowk, nearly all shops which belonged to the Hindus have been sold to Muslims. A shop in Lal Chowk costs more than twice its about Rs 1.200.000 value seven years ago.

Nearly 200.000 Kashmiri Pandits migrated to other parts of country soon after the insurgency broke out in late 1989. leaving behind their material possessions.

Political and business ob-ssrwwa here say this Is a-result of the large amounts of money being pumped into the Valley. They speak of Pakistani funding for two dozen-odd militant and political groups in Kashmir, At the same time, Indian counter-intelligence agencies are financing some anti-militant groups. Added to this are the about 250.000 soldiers who are like permanent tourists and buy nearly everything locally.

A delegation of Pannun Kashmir, an organisation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, which visited Kashmir last month said, "the time is not ripe (for the Hindus) to return."

The comprehensive and inadequate approach...to the problem of rehabilitation of

displaced Kashmiri pundits doesn't take cognizance of the problem in totality." said a statement issued by Pannun Kashmir.

"Creation of refugee camps in the Valley for the Pandits was nothing but an attempt to bring this vulnerable sections of the community within reach of the militants." it added.

An opinion poll by a local weekly found that 76 per cent of Kashmiri Muslims want Kashmiri Hindus back. But another private opinion poll among the Kashmiri Hindus found that 75 percent of them did not want to return for the sake of the future of their children.

Sixty eight per cent Kashmiri Muslims believe that the Pandits betrayed them by running away from the militancy, while the Hindus blame Kashmiri Muslims for the exodus saying, "they always suspected

them (Pandits)."

Some 48 per cent Muslims believe fear was the main reason for the Hindus to migrate while another 40 per cent blamed the government for encouraging the migration.

On March 21. 1997 seven Hindu men were killed in San-grampora village in Budgam district while six Hindu bus passengers were gunned down in village Gul Gulabgarh on June 15. 1997. The two incidents have forced Kashmiri Hindus to re-think plans of returning.

"Even those who had considered to return finally changed their plans after the killings." said Satish Kumar an engineer.

The state government has announced a Rs 28 billion rehabilitation package for the Hindus migrants who are to be resettled In three safe zones In the Valley.

India Abroad News Service