J&K staff to now be posted at headquarters because of mass-resignation
As protests soared in the Valley on Friday against the killing of Kashmiri Hindu Rahul Bhat, many government employees submitted a mass-resignation letter to J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday.
This comes after PM package employees, in an open letter to J&K LG threatened to render en-masse resignation saying they were left with no choice over security concerns.
In a letter to LG Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Prime Minister’s Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants package employees noted that the en-masse resignation seemed to be the only solution to save their lives amidst the threats.
“First, they asked who Rahul Bhat is & then they shot him. We want inquiry. There was a PS 100 ft away. There must’ve been security at the office but nobody was there. They should check CCTV footage,” Rahul Bhat’s father said.
“Due to dejection by the policies of the administration and subsequent failure of providing the sense of security to all Kashmiri Pandit minorities serving in the Valley for the last 12 years, and due to desperation by promised custodians, who have been facing the threat of life which is the fundamental right of every human being.
We are left with no option but to give en-masse resignation which we know is the only solution to save our lives.
The protestors alleged that they wanted LG Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha to visit them and assure them of their safety but instead, they faced tear gas and lathi charge from the police over the protest.
Protests erupted in Jammu’s Budgam over the killing of government employee Rahul Bhat on Friday. Police resorted to tear gas, stun grenades and even lathi-charge to disperse the crowd when they attempted to march towards the airport road. Rahul Bhat’s family demanded justice and alleged that he was killed for being a minority.
Rahul Bhat was shot dead in his office in the Chadoora area in Jammu’s Budgam on Thursday. The terrorists barged through the Tehsil office in Chadoora and sprayed bullets on him.
He was taken to the SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for treatment but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Notably, the fatal attack on Rahul Bhat, a clerk in the Tehsildar office in the Chadoora area in Jammu’s Budgam was not an isolated incident of its kind.
In addition to that, threatening letters targetting Kashmiri Hindus have been dispatched in different parts of the Valley in the past. Terror organization Lashkar-e-Islam had issued a warning to Kashmiri Hindus to ‘leave Kashmir or get killed’ in an unsigned letter in April 2022 for instance.
Jammu & Kashmir lieutenant governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Sunday said all Kashmiri Pandit Prime Minister (PM) Package Employees across the Valley will be posted at district and tehsil headquarters.
The governor’s announcement came in the aftermath of the killing of a government employee, Rahul Bhat, by two terrorists in south Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday.
The incident had triggered protests across the Valley, with as many as 350 employees threatening to resign from their government jobs.
“All the PM package employees will be posted at secured district and tehsil headquarters. Jammu & Kashmir Police will ensure adequate security to employees and their family members,” the Lt Governor told a delegation led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K unit chief Ravinder Raina. The six-member delegation had sought security of the Kashmiri Pandits.
All concerns will be addressed in a time-bound manner, Sinha said. The LG said he has constituted a special cell for PM package employees in the LG secretariat to look into grievances of the Kashmiri Pandit employees.
The cell will coordinate with district administrations and other departments to resolve all issues. Additional secretary Akshay Labroo will serve as the cell’s nodal officer, he said.
Sinha said a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe Bhat’s killing as well as use of force against Kashmiri Pandit employees during their protest.
“A SIT has been formed to probe into all aspects of Rahul Bhat’s killing. The team will also look into the tear gas shelling incident. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” he said.
Police on Friday fired tear gas shells and resorted to lathi charge after a group of protesters allegedly tried to proceed from Sheikhpora area of Budgam district to Srinagar airport.
The LG said two terrorists associated with the killing have been gunned down by security forces. “Two terrorists involved in the attack have been killed.
We have given full freedom to the security forces and the remaining will be eliminated soon. Let me assure you, those behind plotting the attack and their supporters will be punished soon,” Sinha said.
