Following the reports that many migrant employees have either left or are planning to shift from the valley, the administration has directed employees not to leave the place and any absence from the duty shall be dealt as per service rules.
After the spurt of civilian killings in the valley that included a sikh principal and a hindu teacher, several migrant employees, mostly non- muslims, who are working in government offices as per reports have either “left” Kashmir or were planning to leave the place till “situation improves.”
Kashmir saw a surge in civilian killings last week as at least seven civilians including local muslims were killed across Kashmir by suspected militants in separate attacks. As per the police records, a total of 29 civilians have been killed this year.
Following the killing of two teachers, All Kashmir Migrant Employees Union (AKMEU) had written to the Chief Secretary Government of Jammu and Kashmir seeking “exemption from their duties till the situation returns to normal.”
“Kashmiri Pandits dispensing their duties in Kashmir feel scared of the emerging grave anti minority situation…..due to recent brutal and gruesome selective killings of members of Hindu community all employees who belong to the same community feel insecure and frightened,” the letter read.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara had directed migrant teachers who live in migrant colony Natnusa, to “impart online classes to teach students in their respective schools.”
The DC had asked two female employees from the community working in Sub-District Hospital to join a medical dispensary at the Natnusa migrant camp.
Since 2005, the migrant employees have secured many government jobs in the region after government reserved posts for people who had left the valley during peak years of insurgency in the 1990s. Most of the government employees are living in security zones across Kashmir.
The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole strongly directed employees not to leave the region during a meeting through video conferencing with Deputy Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police or representatives of Police districts of Kashmir.
While ensuring security of the migrant employees in the region, the Divisional Commissioner impressed upon the officers to preferably post the migrant employees in safe and secure zones instead of far flung and vulnerable areas for the time being.
He further directed that the non-migrant minority populations like labourers, skilled labourers in the districts shall be identified and adequate security measures shall be put in place for them, besides, having regular interactions with them so that any apprehension with regard to their security is taken care of.
During the meeting, he reiterated that “full cooperation, logistic support and all the necessary arrangements of security shall be put in place for the protected persons, panchayat raj institution representatives, political party leaders, minority people, migrantant employees etc.”
“Special meetings shall be conducted with the migrant employers union as well as the non migrant minority population so as to create a safe and secure environment and apprehension with regard to security are taken care of,” he said.
