Sajid Raina
Srinagar, May 16: Protests by Kashmiri Pandits against the killing of a government employee belonging to the migrant Kashmiri Pandit community by militants inside at Tehsil office last week continued in Kashmir for the fifth consecutive day on Monday.
Last week, Rahul Bhat, an employee of the Revenue department working under Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package (PMRP), was shot dead by militants inside the tehsil office Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The protesting KP’s also held a candlelight march in several areas of the valley this evening to pay homage to their colleague. They have vowed to continue their protest until their demands are met.
“Scores of Kashmiri Pandits, assembled at Kheerbhawani, Tulmulla area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and staged a protest seeking their safety and justice for their colleague,” witnesses said. “Holding placards and photographs of their colleague they raised slogans against the government,” they said.
“An innocent Bhat was being killed in the office and the administration does not even know who committed the murder and where he fled, ” Veerji Raina a protester said, adding that the administration should make strict security arrangements before any further bloodshed.
“We are sitting on a peaceful protest but if the situation remains the same in the future, our community will hold mass protest which will be difficult to stop, ” he said.
Sunil another protester says that the administration has failed miserably in protecting us. “Today we have been protesting here for four days but our DC Ganderbal has not come to us yet and redress our grievances. We do not understand why we have been brought to Kashmir when the government cannot protect us. We should not be treated unfairly by the government,” he added.
In Budgam district, the KP’s protest was also witnessed inside Pandit migrant colony where the protesters urged the LG administration to step up security and ensure safe and secure environment for all them.
Similar protests were also held in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district where the protesters also set afire effigies depicting the present government.
Angry with the administration, the protesters were demanding justice for their Colleague who was killed in Budgam. The protesters said that they are being deceived by the administration for their safety which they will never tolerate. In Vessu area, a group of Kashmiri Pandit who have been on strike for the last five days demanded their relocation to safe places outside the Valley. “The government should take steps to protect us this is the demand of our community all over Kashmir at this time, ” said a protester.
The bloodshed should be stopped on their community. This is what the protesters were demanding in Veerwan migrant colony of Baramulla. “Rahul Hum Sharminda Hai Tumhare Katil zinda hai” raising this slogan, the protesters continued their protest today.
However, DC Baramulla Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar said that the KP’s will be kept in safe locations and the administration is taking necessary steps to ensure their safety and the community will get full support from the administration regarding their genuine demands so that they can live their normal life.
