J&K: On Refugee Day, Kashmiri Pandit Employees Protest to Reiterate Demand for Relocation

Srinagar: The Kashmiri Pandit community on Monday reiterated their demand for relocation outside Kashmir Valley as dozens of members from the minority community held a demonstration at Sheikhpora transit camp alleging ‘official apathy’.

The protest was organised by the All Minority Employees Association Kashmir to mark the International Refugee Day observed globally on June 20. The protest comes a month after the death of a revenue official Rahul Bhat, who was killed in a targeted attack by suspected militants on May 12, triggering widespread protests in the region. A majority of the community members, recruited under a special Prime Minister’s relief package, have since left the Valley while those staying back have been demanding relocation.

“The shots of bullets have pierced us deep and killed the notion of existence of being in us. We have been silenced forever in workplaces, streets and homes,” the association members said.

The protesters gathered at the Sheikhpura camp and later attempted to take out a rally but were stopped at the main entrance of the settlement by the J&K police, following which they raised slogans against the police, administration and the government.

The members are demanding relocation out of the Valley till the time situation gets normal here. “Else, if government gives us a written consent that there will not be any casualty of any minority employee here with type of security arrangement and the policies they have framed for us, we will resume our duties as per their discretion,” the protesters said.

Sanjay Koul, one of the representatives, said that residents of the colony were unable to venture out due to fear and security reasons since the past one month. Of nearly 5,000 employees, 3,800, according to Koul, are still living in rented accommodation, without any security. 

“They are treating us as bonded labourers and are addressing our service related issues but what about our lives. How many more do we have to sacrifice for our demands,” he told NewsClick.

Koul added that the government had simply failed to provide them with security and was dilly dallying for too long.

“We have sacrificed enough and do not want any promotion. We may have given the working bond but not the death bond,” another local resident Ashwini said.

The protesters also accused the UT administration of ignoring their demands and lack of communication despite earlier assurances in the wake of killing of Bhat. “The administration designated a nodal officer Akshay Labroo giving us assurances but he has not visited even a single transit camp since then,” the protesters alleged, as they raised slogans against the senior official during the protest.

A spate of targeted killings has swept the region since October last year in which many policemen, panchayat members, non-local labourers, minority community members and other Kashmiri civilians were shot by suspected militants leading to a deterioration in the security situation.

The members of the community have threatened to intensify their protest nation-wide in case their demands are not met sooner. There is consensus amongst the community throughout – including among those living outside in countries like the US and the UK -- that the only solution to the problem lies in relocation of the employees, the members said.