J&K CM Omar Abdullah: Don't Take Threats Against Kashmiri Pandits Lightly

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has cautioned against dismissing threats issued to Kashmiri Pandit employees, stressing the need for strict action against those responsible while urging security forces to ensure the safety of the affected individuals.

Speaking on the matter, the Chief Minister referred to the history of targeted killings of minorities in the Valley, noting that many employees had attempted to leave the region but were prevented from doing so. “Targeted killings of minorities have taken place. Many employees were planning to flee, but they were locked inside their camps. This threat should not be taken lightly. There should be action against those who are behind such threats, and the security of Kashmiri Pandit employees should be ensured,” he said.

The remarks come after hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit employees were placed on administrative leave until August 25, following the circulation of a threat letter allegedly issued by a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terror outfit. The letter reportedly named specific employees and listed their contact details.

In response to the threat, official sources said all employees appointed under the Prime Minister's Special Employment Package were advised to move to safer locations. Those explicitly named in the letter have been safely relocated to Jammu, sources said.

A Kashmiri Pandit employee, Amit Koul, said, “After the threats, police advised us not to attend work, and those who are still living in the Valley have been asked not to come out of their homes.”

Police have said they are investigating the threats and taking necessary security measures to protect the employees. “It's a precautionary measure. We are investigating these threats and taking necessary steps to ensure everyone's safety,” a senior police officer said.

The Prime Minister's Special Employment Package, introduced in 2010, was designed to support the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits who were displaced from their homeland following the outbreak of the armed insurgency in 1990. Around 6,000 Kashmiri Pandits have been provided government jobs under this scheme.

In 2022, terrorists carried out targeted attacks on Kashmiri Pandit employees, killing five of them. These attacks led to widespread protests by PM package employees, who demanded their transfer and posting to Jammu. While the government did not agree to posting them in Jammu, they were subsequently shifted to safer locations in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley.

The latest threats come amid heightened security concerns in parts of Kashmir. The Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3 and was scheduled to conclude on August 28, was suspended from the traditional Anantnag-Pahalgam route on July 23. The pilgrimage was later curtailed and suspended entirely from August 9, with officials citing low pilgrim footfall, weather advisories, and repair work on the tracks.

Before the threats to Kashmiri Pandit employees, terrorists had carried out two separate targeted attacks in south Kashmir. On July 22, a policeman was killed in Anantnag town after terrorists allegedly fired at him at point-blank range. In another incident, two migrant workers were killed in Kulgam.

The situation remains under close monitoring, with security forces engaged in investigation and preventive measures to ensure the safety of all communities in the region.