Migrant workers moved, hundreds leave Kashmir
Deaths of two more civilians in the Valley trigger move over fears of more targeted killings by terrorists
SRINAGAR: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir moved thousands of migrant workers in the Union Territory to “safer area” overnight, while hundreds have fled the Valley after two civilians from outside the region were killed on Sunday in the latest of a string of such attacks in the Valley, people aware of the matter said on Monday.
An official, who asked not to be named, said that many nonlocal workers were moved to safer places in Ganderbal and Baramulla districts and some areas of south Kashmir. The official added that in some areas, the police were asked to remain ready for any such evacuation.
Suspected militants have killed 11 civilians, including five migrant workers, in Kashmir since early October despite a widespread security crackdown in the militarised region.
“We moved thousands of workers to secure places and are facilitating their return home,” a senior police official told new agency Reuters, declining to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
In other areas, security forces had intensified patrolling to prevent any militant activity, the official added.
A government spokesman declined to comment on the movement of migrant workers.
Separately, dozens of migrant workers have left Kashmir since Monday morning either through cabs, buses or trains after the fresh attack on a group of nonlocals at Wanpoh in Kulgam district on Sunday night which left two dead and another injured.
Many spent the night in security camps and police stations, while others were determined to stay put the threat to their lives.
Inside the main railway station in Nowgam, dozens of nonlocals were eagerly waiting for a train that will take them to Banihal in Jammu division.
Among them, Jintendra from Bihar who used to sell ice cream and other products on a handcart in Habba Kadal in old city, left his rented accommodation early on Monday morning to catch a train to his hometown. He was joined by six other men.
Zahir ul Islam, who hails from Malda district in West Bengal, said they received a call from the police on Sunday night and were asked to reached the police station in Ganderbal.
“We were 20 people staying in four rooms at Ganderbal. After noting down our details, the police took us to a nearby camp in Dignibal where more than 500 migrant workers had already assembled,” he said, adding that they couldn’t sleep in the chaos.
“Only a few hundred people were given food, rest all of us remained hungry. In the afternoon we were allowed to go. The police officers asked us whether we wanted to go home and many of us declined to go home,” Islam added.
He said that their group is involved in construction work and wanted to complete all the remaining projects. ”We will stay for the next two months and then go on at our routine time.
Despite the killings, we won’t leave Kashmir. We have been coming to this place since many years. Nothing happened in our district and we have no fear,” he added. His roommate Faruqul, who is also from West Bengal, agreed. “We are not afraid. We will only go once our works gets complete here. Also many people owe us money we need to collect the amount from people.”
Officials at the railway station said the non-local workers have been coming since morning and many waited for five to six hours till the trains arrived and took them to the Banihal station. “Yes, today many locals could be seen at the railway stations along with bags and blankets,” said a security officer at station.
At Sopore, migrant workers were called to police station late on Sunday night and then kept in a school building on the national highway and the hostel of a degree college.
”When we reached the police station, we were taken to a school building close to the army and police camp and kept there for the night. Some of our colleagues left for their homes the next day in cabs. We are still in the school building and we haven’t decided whether to go, or stay,” said Dalip Paswan, a labourer from Bihar.
At the Srinagar railway station, many non-locals said they feel unsafe after the killings.
“I never wanted to go before January, but back-to-back attacks on non-locals have left all of us scared. I have been coming to this place since the past two decades but the panic in the last few weeks has left us worried. If things will improve, I will be back but only after winter,” said Darmendra from Bihar, who was holding just a few clothes in a jute bag. He said that everything was going peacefully until now, but the targeted killings of street vendors and labourers have left them worried. “I will take a train to Banihal and then will board another train from Jammu. For the time being, Kashmir isn’t a safe place any more.”
Another labourer Dhananjay from Darapore Bihar said after the killings of non locals they don’t want to stay. “With each passing day, the situation is turning bad and people from Bihar are being targeted. This thing had never happened earlier so we have decided to leave this place.” Officials are, however, tight-lipped over the workers leaving the Valley.
AT SOPORE, MIGRANTS WERE CALLED TO POLICE STATION LATE ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND THEN KEPT IN A SCHOOL BUILDING ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY