AFTER targeted killings of the minorities and the migrant labourers over the last three years, Kashmiri Pandits have received fresh threats from the militants. The threat to Pandits follows the one against Kashmiri journalists which led to resignation of about five journalists from their jobs. The Resistance Front (TRF) has asked the Valley’s Hindus to leave the region, saying that non-locals and Kashmiri Hindus were taking away jobs and land in Kashmir. In fact, the list of Kashmiri Pandits, the TRF plans to target is the same one that the government had decided to employ under the prime minister’s scheme. This has been a source of deep concern for security agencies and also among the people. The disclosure of names is being seen as a big breach of security as questions are being raised as to how the TRF got access to this confidential document. The Jammu and Kashmir police have taken cognizance of the threat and begun an investigation, which hopefully should reveal the truth.
However, the government needs to take the threat very seriously. So far, twenty four people have been killed in Kashmir over the last year, the victims including Kashmiri Pandits, migrant labourers and security personnel returning for holidays to their homes. This is a distressing situation. The civilian killings in Kashmir have become a big issue in the Valley and across the country. In the Valley, the killings have become a deep source of worry for security forces who are already stretched.
The threat to Pandits poses a fresh challenge. According to an estimate, there are around 8000 minority employees including Kashmiri Pandits who are posted in Kashmir. Hence the serious concern expressed by the various political parties including also by Kashmiri Pandit groups is understandable.
Pandit employees are demanding that the government waive off the bond requiring them to remain permanently posted in Kashmir. And if the government gave in to their demand, it would defeat the very purpose of the Pandits’ employment in Kashmir: the purpose behind this is to somehow incentivize the return of Pandits to their homeland. This is, thus, a very tricky situation and the government needs to do a tightrope walk to ensure both of its ends are served: killings and threats stop altogether and Pandits also don’t leave. So, the administration needs to do more to provide a sense of security to the community and take firm steps to stop threats and killings.
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