Arvind Sharma|Jammu Tawi|Oct 16: The administration of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) is yet to take final call for providing security to a little around two hundred (200) employees of minority communities who migrated to Jammu after series of targeted killings of people belonging to Kashmiri Pandit and Sikh minority communities in Kashmir.
As per the exclusive information gathered by the Northlines, over 200 employees, mainly of of Kashmiri Pandit minority community, who migrated to Jammu after spate of targeted killings in the trouble torn Kashmir valley, have been putting up in different places across Jammu.
“They are demanding adequate security for their return to Kashmir valley,” sources said.
“Apart from the Kashmiri Pandits, some members (employees) of Sikh community have also migrated to Jammu after targeted killings in Kashmir,” Ashwani Churango, BJP leader and also a prominent leader of Kashmiri Pandit community, informed the Northlines.
Meanwhile, sources informed that the administration of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) has initiated the process for ascertaining security threat and thus providing adequate security to the members of minority communities in Kashmir.
“The heads various departments (HoDs) have been directed by the administration of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) to submit a detailed report mentioning therein the security threat to the employees of their concerned departments across Kashmir,” reliable sources informed the Northlines.
“On the basis of the report submitted by the heads various departments (HoDs), the situation will be analysed and then the requisite security will be provided to the employees of minority communities rendering their services in the Kashmir valley,” they further informed adding, “the reports by the heads various departments (HoDs) are yet to be submitted”.
Meanwhile, the spate of target killings continue unabated in Kashmir despite heavy deployment and continuous operation against the militants by the security forces as another non-local, a street vendor resident of Bihar was shot dead today evening by the militants in Srinagar.
Earlier, two government school teachers, Supinder Kaur, a Sikh, and Deepak Chand, a Hindu, were killed by the militants in Srinagar on October 7. Prior to these targeted killings, a well-known pharmacist, Makhan Lal Bindroo, from the Kashmiri Pandit community, was also gunned down on October 5 in Srinagar as part of targeted killings of minority community members either working or residing in the valley.
On the same day, a Bihar-native, street food-seller Virender Paswan, was also killed by the militants targeting members of minority community and also the outsiders.
“This is sheer ethnic cleansing which we witnessed during the 90s when Kashmiri Pandits were harassed and forced to migrate from their homeland leave their homes and property,” Ashwani Curungoo said.
It may be mentioned here that the National Human Rights Commission has also issued notices to the Jammu and Kashmir government and police over the recent spate of targeted killings of civilians from minority communities.
The NHRC issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the DGP of the Union Territory on October 9 after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports. The officials were asked to respond within four weeks, according to the proceedings.
“The painful incidents of killing of civilians allegedly by the terrorists are a serious threat to the democratic fibre of the country and people's right to life, liberty, equality and dignity. Targeted killings of those who are not Kashmiri Muslims is an attempt to keep non-Muslims out of the Valley. It is a gross violation of human rights of minority communities in the Valley, which must be stopped,” the NHRC observed.
The Commission referred to news reports about the killing of two government school teachers, Supinder Kaur, a Sikh, and Deepak Chand, a Hindu, in Srinagar on October 7.
