Srinagar: Kashmiri Pandits continue protests for the fifth consecutive day against the killing of a migrant government employee who was shot dead by unidentified militants inside his office.
On Thursday, Rahul Bhat, an employee of the Revenue department working under Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package (PMRP), was killed inside the tehsil office Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The protestors 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.
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"Scores of Kashmiri Pandits, assembled at Kheerbhawani (a holy place for pandits) in Tulmulla area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and staged a protest seeking their safety and justice for their colleague,” witnesses said.
"While holding placards and photographs of their colleague they raised slogans against the current government," they said.
"An innocent man was being killed inside a government office and the administration does not know who committed the murder and where they fled," Veerji Raina a protester said.
“The administration should make strict security arrangements before any further bloodshed,” he said during the protest.
"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 added.
In Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, a protest was also reported 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 dispensation.
In Vessu area, a group of Kashmiri Pandit who have been on strike for the last five days demanded their relocation 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.
Akin protests held in Veerwan migrant colony of north Kashmir’s Baramulla.
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.
(KNO)
