Congress leader Pawan Khera on Monday slammed the Centre over a fresh threat letter to Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, saying it exposes the government’s Kashmir policy.
Speaking to ANI, Khera said, “We have seen a threat letter issued to Kashmiri Pandits (in J&K). We were expecting that the displaced Kashmiri Pandits would be resettled there again. Now, this incident tells about the government’s Kashmir policy.”
Meanwhile, the All PM Package Employees Forum Kashmir has written to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir seeking enhanced security and protection for Kashmiri Pandit employees serving under the Prime Minister’s Package in the Kashmir Valley, citing fresh threats circulating on social media.
In a letter dated August 24, the forum drew the administration’s attention to a purported threat poster allegedly issued by an outfit calling itself the United Liberation Council (ULC) and dated August 23. Responding to the threat, one of the employees who is a Kashmiri Pandit has said that he will “neither be sacred or run away.”
According to the forum, the poster contains threats directed at migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees and reportedly mentions sensitive personal information, including the names, addresses and vehicle numbers of some individuals.
The forum, however, acknowledged that the authenticity of the poster has not yet been verified by the police or security agencies.
In its letter, the forum said, “The authenticity of the poster is yet to be verified by the Police and security agencies. However, the repeated circulation of such threat letters and posters, particularly those containing sensitive personal information, is a matter of grave concern.”
Regarding the threats, one of the employees who is a Kashmiri Pandit has said that they will not be scared or run away from such threats.
“We will neither be scared nor run away this time. Kashmir is ours also. It is our birthplace…A threat letter was issued in the first week of August as well. Today (Sunday), again, a threat letter has been uploaded that mentions addresses, vehicle numbers, and even phone numbers. I request the Administration and Security agencies to find out the origin of these threat letters and who is providing them with all the information,” the employee told ANI.
The organisation said the matter had reportedly been brought to the notice of the concerned police and security agencies for verification and necessary action.
The forum also referred to previous targeted attacks against Kashmiri Pandit employees, saying the repeated emergence of alleged threats has created fear among employees and their families.
“We have already witnessed the tragic loss of Kashmiri Pandit employees in targeted attacks. The repeated emergence of new threats every week has created a deep sense of fear and insecurity among employees and their families,” the forum said.
Seeking immediate intervention from the administration, the forum has called for enhanced and adequate security cover for all PM Package Kashmiri Pandit employees posted in the Valley.
It has also urged authorities to conduct a thorough verification of the latest threat poster and identify those responsible for its circulation if it is found to be genuine or deliberately circulated to intimidate employees.
The forum further sought a review of security arrangements at the employees’ places of posting, residential accommodations and transit routes.
It has specifically requested immediate protection and security guidance for employees whose names, addresses or vehicle details may have appeared in the alleged threat.
The forum said preventive measures should be taken on the basis of the latest security assessment and intelligence inputs, stressing that the government should act swiftly to reassure employees and their families.
The development comes amid continuing security concerns surrounding the safety of Kashmiri Pandit employees working in the Valley. The forum has urged the administration to treat the latest threat seriously while establishing its authenticity through a formal investigation.