Fearing their lives, non-locals have started migrating from the Kashmir valley after two migrant labourers were killed by terrorists. They were also threatened to leave the valley.
The migrant exodus was triggered when 11 civilians, mostly migrant labourers from Bihar were gunned down by terrorists after they barged into accommodation in Kulgam in South Kashmir on Sunday. This was the third attack on the non-locals in a month in the valley.
A large number of workers were seen heading to Jammu on Monday, while authorities have shifted non-locals to secure locations. Many were seen sitting on the footpath of the Jammu railway station.
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Labourers while speaking to the media broke down and narrated their ordeal saying they are scared to go back to Kashmir again as terrorists targeted and threatened them to leave the place.
The labourers fear for their lives and said they are left with no money to survive. Some said owners don't pay the migrants their pending dues.
“Situation is getting bad here. We’re scared, we’ve children with us and hence going back to our hometown,” a Rajasthan migrant was quoted by news agency ANI.
Along with non-locals, Kashmiri Pandits and Sikh families are also leaving the Valley. Most of the non-locals are government employees appointed under special packages by the Narendra Modi government rehabilitation scheme for Kashmiri Pandit and Sikh communities. They reside in different colonies specifically built for them in different parts of Kashmir. Srinagar, Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara and Ganderbal are the places where these colonies are located.
In the backdrop of the killings, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have directed all the district chiefs in Kashmir to assemble non-locals labourers and bring them to the nearest security camps set up for sheltering them.
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A message was issued to all the district police, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said, “All non-local labourers in your respective jurisdiction should be brought to the nearest police or central paramilitary force or army establishment just now.”
“The matter is most urgent,” read the message.