The protests by the members of the Kashmiri Pandit community across Kashmir valley who are working under the Prime Minister Rehabilitation Package have refused to die down as the community has been demanding implementation of the measures by the authorities to safeguard their lives in the valley.
Kashmir Pandit community has been up in arms against the authorities after a Kashmiri Pandit employee at the Tehsil office in Chadoora in Budgam district was gunned down by two bike-borne terrorists inside his office.
“We will continue our just demand for security, we don’t want to be sitting ducks on fire. If Rahul Bhat can be killed inside the Tehsil office terrorists can target anyone of us anywhere. We don’t want to remain at the mercy of those terrorists,” Ramesh Raina a Kashmiri Pandit employee told The Daily Guardian.
Around 6000 Kashmir pandit employees who have been working in various parts of Kashmir were employed under the Prime Minister Relief and Rehabilitation Package which was announced by the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The employees have been housed across various secure migrant quarters in the valley, however, the employees now say that it has become difficult for them to move out.
“The police are guarding our colonies but what about when we go to the office, who will take care when we go out shopping, who will secure our kids when they go to school?” Anil Bhat, an employee living in Sheikhpora migrant camp said.
Soon after the killing of the Rahul Bhat the Kashmir pandit employees threatened to resign en-masse from their jobs if the government fails to provide them security. The authorities have assured that the government will look into the demands and ensure that the Kashmiri Pandit employees are transferred to a safer location at an earliest.
The Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha had said that the administration has taken necessary steps to ensure the welfare and security of PM package employees and all concerns will be addressed in a time-bound manner.
All the PM package employees will be posted at secure District and Tehsil Headquarters, and Jammu Kashmir Police will ensure adequate security of employees and their family members, said the Lt Governor.
“It is a very sensitive and emotional moment for the entire administration and the nation, and we must stand united in the fight against terror. Two terrorists involved in the attack have been killed. We have given full freedom to the security forces and the remaining will be eliminated soon. Let me assure you, those behind plotting the attack and their supporters will be punished soon,” Lt Governor had said.
Sinha said that Police has been directed to ensure foolproof security for the PM package employees.