JAMMU: Even as the government has categorically stated that the migrant employees will not be shifted to Jammu but transferred to safer locations within the Valley, the Jammu based reserved categories employees serving in Kashmir continue to hold protest demanding transfer to their home districts in Jammu region.
Holding banners, placards and picture of Rajni Bala, the employees took out a protest march from Exhibition Ground, Jammu and blocked the Tawi bridge for some time. After that the employees sat on a dharna near Maharaja Hari Singh’s statue nearby.
Several employees said that no place in Kashmir is safe under the prevailing situation, citing the recent grenade attack on migrant labourers Friday evening at Zainapora area of Shopian.
“All Jammu based reserved category employees are under a lot of stress. We are not safe in Kashmir. We appeal to the government to frame a transfer policy and shift us to Jammu. We have already spent a long duration of posting in Kashmir, now we will not go back there as the situation is alarming,” said an employee.
The employees said that although the government every now and then makes claims that the law and order situation in Kashmir is under control, the ground reality is altogether different.
“Terrorists are striking at will. Non-locals are soft targets for them. The government must explain that under such a grim situation how we could perform our duties,” they said.
Spokesperson of Jammu based employees, Shashi Gautam said that it is unfortunate that no one from the administration has approached them and listened to their grievances.
“Even as we are on protest for the last four days no official has tried to meet us. We will continue to protest until and unless the government fulfills our demands,” he said.
Meanwhile, few thousand Kashmiri Pandits, who have got jobs in the Valley under Prime Minister’s employment package, have reached here along with their families and said an environment of apprehension is prevalent in the Valley owing to the recent spate of targeted killings by militants.
The Pandits said they have heaved a sigh of relief on reaching their township at Jagti in the outskirts of Jammu after spending sleepless nights in their rented accommodations in Kashmir over the past few weeks.
