Srinagar: Kashmiri Pandit employees working in the Valley have reportedly been asked to remain at home following an online threat letter that warned them to “change their ways” and disclosed the names and phone numbers of some employees.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the Jammu and Kashmir government has verbally instructed departments to allow Kashmiri Pandit employees to stay away from work and remain alert. They have also reportedly been advised to move to safer locations if necessary.
The threat letter surfaced about a week after two migrant workers were killed at a brick kiln in south Kashmir’s Kulgam on July 31, prompting heightened security concerns in the Valley.
Police are verifying the authenticity of the letter, which was circulated online in the name of a group called the United Liberation Council. Security officials suspect the group could be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). A police officer told The Indian Express that the group had first appeared in July with a poster marking the death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
The letter reportedly targeted Kashmiri Pandits who live outside Kashmir but are employed in the Valley. It listed six employees, all from the Revenue Department, and attempted to associate their work with government action against properties linked to militants, the report said.
Although no formal government order has been issued, sources cited by The Indian Express said verbal directions were passed to departments, particularly schools and the Revenue Department, asking Kashmiri Pandit employees to remain at home.
A government school principal said employees were initially granted flexibility over attendance before being told to stay home for an extended period. However, Director of School Education Naseer Ahmad Wani, quoted in the report, denied that any such official instructions had been issued, saying employees were continuing to report for duty.
Around 6,000 Kashmiri migrants have received benefits under the Prime Minister’s Special Rehabilitation and Employment Package over the years, which requires beneficiaries to work in the Valley. Sunny Raina, president of the All Prime Minister’s Package Employees told the newspaper that around 9,000 such employees are currently posted in Kashmir.
Raina said employees had been asked to stay home after the threat posters appeared but argued that doing so was not a long-term solution, as they still need to carry out routine activities outside their homes.
The report quoting the sources said security arrangements for migrant employees had been strengthened and that they had been advised not to report to work until August 20. Those whose names appeared in the threat letter have reportedly been told to exercise additional caution.
The development comes against the backdrop of attacks on migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees in 2022, when five people were killed in a series of militant attacks.
The employees subsequently staged a prolonged protest demanding transfers outside Kashmir, but the government instead relocated some workers to areas considered safer within the Valley.
