J&K police begin survey to identify non-locals in Valley

WANPOH (KULGAM): After the attacks on non-locals in Kashmir, police have started a survey to identify many of them are still present in the Valley, especially in south Kashmir.

The process was accelerated after unidentified gunmen barged into the rented accommodation of non-local labourers at Katersoo village on Tuesday, dragged them out and fired indiscriminately resulting in death of five labourers.

Those who were killed hailed from Murshidabad in West Bengal. One of the labourer was injured and while another had a narrow escape as he was not present at the rented accommodation. “On Wednesday morning, policemen came to our rented accommodation and took details such as our names and the name of house owner. They (policemen) asked us questions about our purpose of work and enquired about other non-local labourers,” said Shahid, who hails from Assam and lives at Sufigund village close to Wanpoh in Kulgam district.

“They (policemen) also went to other places in the village and collected details,” he added.

He said this is for the first time when police collected details from them. “The policemen asked us not to venture deep into the villages in south Kashmir.”

A senior police official posted in south Kashmir told HT they are concerned about the pattern of the attacks on non-local labourers and truck drivers in the Valley.“so far, we don’t have any data about how many non-local labourers are present in south Kashmir. Therefore, we are trying to find out their exact number in the Valley,” he said, adding that they have issued an advisory asking them to follow the guidelines.

“However, it is difficult to find out their exact number in south Kashmir,” the official said.

Prior to the attack in Katersoo, Seti Kumar Sagar, a labourer from Chattisgarh, was killed at Nihama Kakapora in Pulwama last month. Sagar and his nephew were stopped by unidentified gunmen and later he was killed while his nephew was left unharmed.

It is not clear whether the non-locals staying in other parts of the Valley are being registered by the police. However, in Srinagar, days after abrogation of Article 370, police had asked hotel owners to get the names of tenants registered at the nearest police stations.

More than four lakh non-locals, who come from different parts of the country, are engaged in skilled and unskilled works in Kashmir. However, non-locals especially those working at construction sites had left the Valley and did not return after the state’s special status was revoked on August 5.

Many of them returned during the paddy and apple harvesting season which begins in September. Of these, many are still living in rented accommodation at villages in Kashmir.

We didn’t have any data about how many non-local labourers are present in south Kashmir. Therefore, we are trying to find out their exact number. We have also issued an advisory asking them to take precautions. A senior police official