On Friday evening, protestors at Sheikhpora Migrant Colony, Budgam alleged that they had been locked by the police inside their locality.
It is pertinent to mention that the residents of the locality are the Kashmiri Pandit residents who have been employed under the Prime Minister’s Special Rehabilitation Package.
An agitated protestor alleged that the protesters were assured by the DIG that the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu Kashmir, i.e., Manoj Sinha would visit them and address them. He said that the DIG did not live up to his words and moreover, had imprisoned the protestors within the confines of the locality.
In a video, the protestors can be seen locked in the premises of the locality, amid heavy Police presence outside the locked gate of the locality.
“How long will you lock us here?” asked the agitated protestors while pointing toward the police.
One of the protesters, pointing to the administration’s failure in providing security to Kashmiri Pandit residents said that given the scenario and if things worsen, all of them will have to leave the valley.
Pertinently, a Kashmiri Pandit employee, rehabilitated under the Prime Minister’s Special Rehabilitation Package was shot dead by suspected militants on Thursday evening, leading to widespread agitation from the Pandits all across the valley.
Kashmiri Pandits gathered in the aftermath of Rahul Bhat’s killing and staged a protest in Anantnag on Thursday evening itself. Meanwhile, today, in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, a mass protest was foiled by the security forces using tear gas shells citing ‘safety’ reasons.
Protests were reported from Srinagar, Kulgam and Baramulla districts as well, where Kashmiris of all faiths joined in solidarity against Rahul Bhat’s killing.
Protests were reported from Srinagar, Kulgam, Baramulla and Bandipora districts as well, where Kashmiris of all faiths joined the protesting Kashmiri Pandits in solidarity against Rahul Bhat’s killing.