Now it is Jammu and Kashmir's turn to throw out Biharis and Punjabis to protect
the locals. I was under the impression that the militants had pretty much
cleaned out the state of Indians with Hindu names. It appears I was wrong.
Earlier the Bihar chief minister spoke out against the eviction of Biharis from
Assam. I have not heard anything against J&K. Have you?
Dilip Deka
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cleaved valley
Now, outsiders being driven out of Kashmir News of two migrant workers
involvement in a local girls rape and murder triggers an assault on
non-Kashmiris. They are fleeing the Valley
Peerzada Arshad Hamid
Srinagar Migrant workers from north Indian states are leaving the Valley in
large numbers following a public outcry over the involvement of two non-locals
in the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in north Kashmirs Langate
village. Most of the residents of the Hawal locality in Srinagar, until now
home to a large number of migrants from Bihar and its adjoining areas, have
already left, leaving behind an eerie silence.
EXODUS: migrant labourers wait to board a bus at the inter-state
depot in Srinagar
Anger erupted against non-locals after the police revealed that two migrant
labourers were among four men who raped and killed the teenage girl, Tabinda
Gani, on July 20. Veteran separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and later
the Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad, issued public calls for non-locals
to leave the Valley within a weeks time. The ultimatum created panic and fear
among thousands of non-Kashmiri labourers, many of whom were seen packing their
bags and vacating their rental houses.
The quit Kashmir call came after four persons were arrested by the police
in connection with the rape and murder of Gani, a class VIII student who was
kidnapped by four men when she was coming back from school. The men raped the
teenager and later killed her by slitting her throat.
No sooner than the news of arrest and involvement of non-local workers was
made public that ire was directed against migrants in the village and soon
spread to other areas. However, following public criticism, particularly by
newspapers through their editorials condemning the threat issued by Geelani,
the hardliner was forced to soften his stand saying only persons with criminal
background should be seen off. Geelanis retraction was followed by that of the
Hizbul Mujahideen, which said the organisation does not believe in punishing
the majority for the crimes of a few. The Hizb appealed to all non-Kashmiri
people to continue with their work in the Valley without fear.
However, non-locals continue to flee the Valley despite assurances. They
have taken the call back but who will be responsible if something untoward
happens? said Satish Yadav, a small-time painter from Bihar who was leaving
the Valley for good. To hell with the money that has life as its stake. I am
going back to my village and will take some job there. Even the policemen are
not ready to protect us, he said.
Hundreds of workers have booked their seats for a journey back home and
beelines of them can be seen at state road transport as well as private bus
depots. It was a hectic week and we were forced to press additional buses into
service. The process seems unending, said a J & K srtc official pointing to
the long queue outside the ticket counter. The transport department is now
plying 18 buses daily in place of the usual 10 to meet the rush.
Abdul Halim, who lived in the Hawal locality, was asked by his house owner to
leave. For 10 years none of us was ever harassed or targeted by any Kashmiri.
I fail to understand what has happened suddenly. If someone among us has
committed a mistake let the police punish him, why should others suffer? he
asks.
Landlords who have rented their houses to non-locals have grown apprehensive
and are asking them to leave. I have asked my tenants to vacate my house to
avoid any untoward incident. If tomorrow someone targets them in my house who
will be held responsible? said a landlord at Hawal, pleading not to be named.
Kuljeet, a carpenter from Punjab, was living in Kashmir for the past three
years. Wherever we go people ask us why we havent left. Some of us were
beaten up by people asking us to leave, so why should we stay put? Kuljeet
said.
The call for non-Kashmiris to leave the Valley also came from the
Srinagar-based Jammu and Kashmir Joint Workers and Labourers Union, as well as
from the Kashmir Bar Association.
The large number of outsiders in the Valleys work force has long been a
concern among the states people. Locals also blame outsiders for spoiling the
Islamic nature of the society by consuming alcohol and drugs and running
brothels. For now, only a pall of fear hangs over those who are firm on
fighting the undercurrent of hostility.
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