Say won’t ever return to Valley
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 18: Following targeted killing of non-locals by the terrorists, migrant workers have started fleeing Kashmir and are reaching Jammu with bag and baggage to board train for returning back to their home States.
A number of migrant workers, including their families have been reaching Jammu Railway Station since this morning. Assembled in small groups, these people are staying near Jammu Railway Station complex and the adjoining park.
Shocked over the brutal killings of innocent civilians, including their community members and scared over the prevailing situation that forced them to flee from their work, these non-local labourers were certain not to ever return to Kashmir valley.
“Kashmir is not a Jannat (heaven) but Jahannum (hell) for us. We have run to save our lives and will never go back,” said a labourer from Chhattisgarh, who had reached Jammu from Srinagar, this afternoon
“We will work in Punjab or Haryana or anywhere but Kashmir to feed our families at our native places, who are worried after hearing news of killings,” he added.
A female labourer told the Excelsior that they were asked by the locals to leave Kashmir as they expressed their inability to take responsibility of the safety of non-locals. “We are here since morning with no food or assistance from any quarter,” she lamented and alleged that nobody from the administration supported them despite repeated requests.
“We used to go to Kashmir every year for working there and this had never happened even when the situation was worse,” said middle aged Kala Ram, a resident of Bihar, adding that he got many calls from family so he along with a few more decided to leave.
Pertinent to mention that 11 civilians, including five non-local labourers have been killed by terrorists in Kashmir during the last few days. The targeted killings have unleashed a panic wave among non-locals and minorities in Kashmir valley. According to estimates, there are nearly four lakh non-local labourers in Kashmir Valley and nearly 50 percent among them are from Bihar.
Fear is palpable among these migrant workers who quietly left Kashmir last night and now waiting for train to reach home in native state. “We don’t know why they are forcing us to leave,” said Parkash, a carpenter from Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, General Railway Police (GRP) Jammu has activated its night patrolling teams which were seen taking round at the station with SDPO Railway Jammu Albeena Malik and SHO GRP Jammu personally assessing the situation.
As the Excelsior talked to GRP team there, the officials said that they were in constant touch with the Railway authorities for ascertaining the number of such non-locals arriving here and a help desk is also being established soon to facilitate these people in reaching their destination besides arrange meals etc for them.
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