Jammu, Aug 12: Kashmiri Pandit employees working in the Kashmir Valley have reportedly been asked to stay home and remain alert after an online threat letter warned them to “change their ways” and published the names and phone numbers of some employees.
The Jammu and Kashmir government is learnt to have issued verbal instructions to departments to keep the employees on leave and advise them to move to safer locations, The Indian Express reported.
The development comes about a week after two migrant workers were killed at a brick kiln in south Kashmir’s Kulgam last month.
Police Probe Threat Letter
Police are verifying the authenticity of the letter, which was circulated online by a group calling itself the United Liberation Council. Security officials suspect the group could be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba.
“This group first surfaced in July when it released a poster on (Hizbul Mujahideen commander) Burhan Wani’s death anniversary,” a police officer told The Indian Express. “It seems to be another shadow group of Lashkar.”
The letter reportedly named six Kashmiri Pandit employees, all from the Revenue Department, and linked their work to government action against properties allegedly belonging to terrorists.
Although no formal government order has been issued, sources said departments, particularly schools and the Revenue Department, were verbally told to allow the employees to remain at home.
However, Naseer Ahmad Wani, Director of School Education, denied that any such order had been issued. “We have not asked any employee to work from home or take leave,” Wani told the publication. “All employees are regularly coming to duty.”
Call For A Long-Term Solution
Security has reportedly been increased for migrant employees, with sources saying those named in the letter have been asked to remain especially vigilant and stay away from work until August 20.
Sunny Raina, president of the All Prime Minister’s Package Employees association, said around 9,000 migrant employees are currently posted in the Valley.
“We have been told to stay home after these posters came up, but that is not a solution to our problem,” Raina told The Indian Express. “We have a social life as well. I have to go to the market to fetch household items, to get medicines.”
The latest development has revived concerns over the safety of Kashmiri Pandit employees, who faced a series of militant attacks in 2022. Five employees were killed that year, prompting prolonged protests seeking transfers outside the Valley.–(Agencies)
