காஷ்மீரில் கூலித்தொழிலாளர்கள் வெளியேற்றம்

இந்தியாவில் பாகங்களிலிருந்து காஷ்மீரில் வேலை செய்யவந்த கூலித்தொழிலாளர்கள் காஷ்மீரை விட்டு வெளியேற வேண்டும் என்று இஸ்லாமிய பயங்கரவாதிகள் விடுத்த எச்சரிக்கை மிரட்டல் காரணமாக 7000 இந்திய தொழிலாளர்கள் காஷ்மீரிலிருந்து வெளியேறினார்கள்.

Hundreds of non-Kashmiris Leave Valley Today
By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, July 28: After militant group, Hizbul Mujahidee's statement asking non-Kashmiris to leave the Valley, hundreds of non-Kashmiri labourers and artisan left the summer capital Srinagar today for their respective places in India. Police sources said that 7000 non-Kashmiri labourers and artisans left today.

A large number of non-Kashmiri labourers and artistans carrying their baggage were seen boarding government owned vehicles at the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), Srinagar. They were also seen in large numbers boarding tata sumo and tata tempo vehicles at Gantha Ghar, Lal Chowk.

A sumo operator at Ganta Ghar said that all morning, hundreds of non-Kashmiri artisans and labourers boarded the sumo vehicles for Jammu. Similarly some hundred non-Kashmiris boarded the tempo traveler vehicles and left Kashmir.

An official at TRC said that by noon, at least a dozen buses left for Jammu and out of these four to five were fully filled with the non-Kashmiri labourers and artisans, commonly known in Kashmiri terminology as "Biharis".

A labourer from the Indian state of Bihar along with five others left their job in Uri, Baramulla to go back to their native place this morning in a sumo vehicle. One among them, identifying himself as Vinod Paswan of Aurangabad, Bihar said, "We are leaving the Valley for our own security". He said that more non-Kashmiris working in Uri would be leaving in the next few days. He said that nobody told them to leave Kashmir. "We are leaving on our own", he added.

Another non-Kashmiri labourer, Vijay Kumar from Gatiya, Bihar said, "I, along with 12 of my companions came to visit Kashmir a month back and we were staying at Umar Colony, Lal Bazar on the outskirts of Srinagar. The other day, the house owner where we were staying told us to leave the place. Even the youth and people on the roads were asking us to leave".

He said that after thoroughly thinking over the situation, all 13 of them decided to leave. All 13 of them boarded a bus at TRC, Srinagar for Jammu, this afternoon.

A large number of non-Kashmiris also left on buses from the summer capital's Batamaloo area.

A carpenter from the Indian state of Punjab, Gurjeet Singh, said, that he is keeping a close watch on the situation. "I have not yet decided to leave the place, but in case the exodus of non-Kashmiri labourers and artisans continues, then I too will leave for my place. Nobody wants to risk his life", he added.

Police sources in Srinagar said that 7000 non-Kashmiri labourers and artisans left the Valley today. They said that in North Kashmir almost all the non-Kashmiri labourers and artisans have packed up and may be leaving Kashmir within the next few days.

The non-state subject labourers are leaving from North Kashmir, central Kashmir and Srinagar. But there are no reports of non-Kashmiris leaving South Kashmir.

It is pertinent to mention here that hundreds of non locals, working here, as labourers, have already left the valley fearing a hostile response, after two non locals were found involved in rape incident in North Kashmir.

Be it mason, plumber, carpenter, painter, cobbler, motor mechanic, hair dresser or driver - the non Kashmiris have been a huge force of skilled labourers working in the Valley for years. A large number of these non locals were also working in the paddy fields in the Valley.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.


Copyright © 2007, NewsBlaze, Daily News


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