| After killings, non-locals mulling to leave Kashmir | | ‘Have never witnessed such a situation earlier’ | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 17: A day after two non-locals, including a gool-guppa seller and a carpenter were shot dead in the Valley, many non-locals are mulling to leave Kashmir.
A non-local Hazzle-nut seller, Deepak Kumar while talking to a news channel said, “I want to sell the remaining stock and go back home. There is too much fear. I used to earn Rs 500/ to Rs 700/ a day but that’s okay.”
Another Hazzle-nut seller Udit Kumar seconded Deepak saying, “First priority is to save the life. Earnings can only come when a person remains alive.”
On Sunday, non-local vendors had not set up their carts at Hawal a few kilometers away from the spot where a non-local golgappa seller, Arvind Kumar on Saturday.
Another non-local carpenter Sageer Ahmed was killed in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday evening. Last week four members of the minority community, including prominent chemist Makhan Lal Bindroo, Government School Principal, Supinder Kaur, her colleague Deepak Chand and a non-local vendor another golgappa seller, Virendar Paswan were shot dead by the militants in Srinagar.
The officials have made it clear that everyone cannot be provided with security. “Operations against the militants have been intensified and in the past few days, eleven ultras stand neutralized” said, Inspector General of Police—Vijay Kumar.
A few non-local vendors said that they had come to Kashmir to earn their livelihood but the “situation is not permitting us to stay here.”
Babloo Kumar Yadav, another street vendor said, “I have been visiting Kashmir for the past four years but have never witnessed such a situation earlier. There is too much fear. My family back home is calling me constantly. They want me to save my life.”
“The selective killings of non-locals have led to a sense of insecurity creeping into them and the government is finding it hard to end the prevailing fear,” said an analyst. |
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