BUNTY MAHAJAN
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 18: The targeted killing of civilians by militants in Kashmir have led to fear making the non-local labourers leave the Valley.
Militants had shot dead two labourers from Bihar and injured another on Sunday in Kulgam district of South Kashmir.
This was the third attack on workers from outside Jammu and Kashmir in less than 24 hours as a day earlier, a street vendor from Bihar and a carpenter from Uttar Pradesh were killed by militants.
As many as 11 civilians, mostly labourers from Bihar, have been killed in dastardly attacks by terrorists in Kashmir this month.
“Situation is getting bad here. We’re scared, we’ve children with us and hence going back to our hometown,” a migrant from Rajasthan said while leaving Srinagar on Monday.
Nearly 10 lakh workers come to Jammu and Kashmir from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal to work as masons, carpenters, labourers, vendors, embroiderers and even in gold ornament shops.
Though most of the migrants start returning home elsewhere the country during winter in November, the recent targeted killings have made them to leave Valley a bit early.
Rahul, a migrant worker from Patna, lives in Srinagar’s Bemina neighbourhood, which houses the large number of migrant labourers who arrive each year. He is planning to go back home this month. “I am collecting the remaining dues from a client and will leave for home next week,” he says.
Along with non-locals, Kashmiri Pandits and Sikh families too have started leaving the Valley and proceeding to Jammu.
The Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs are mostly government employees who were posted there following their appointment in various departments under PM’s employment package. While a number of them are living there under secured transit accommodation set up by the government, others are staying in private rented accommodations.