Bhaskar Ground Report: We used to fear that the person coming is a customer or a murderer, increasing fear of terrorist incidents among migrants

Migrants walking towards Srinagar bus stand to leave for their homes.

The fear of terrorist incidents in Kashmir is forcing the migrants to flee. People from Hindi speaking areas are leaving the valley overnight. No one is safe. The dream of earning livelihood by living in Kashmir has now turned into a nightmare. About five lakh migrant workers live in the Valley. Three to four lakh workers come to the Valley every year. Most of them leave before the onset of winter, some remain throughout the year. About 90 per cent of the migrant workers are engaged in the construction work of the projects. These include UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, P. There are people from Bengal, Jharkhand and Rajasthan.

Dhananjay, who sells ice cream at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, says, Kashmir has never seen such terror. Things are very bad. We were afraid that the next person on his cart would be the customer or his killer. So he has decided to go somewhere else and work. On the other hand, security forces have been put on high alert in Kashmir. Internet services have been suspended in 11 areas of Srinagar, Pulwama and Kulgam districts. Women CRPF personnel have been deployed for security at Lal Chowk in Srinagar.

Even local people can’t do anything: Ashish
Ashish Kumar of Bihar says, ‘People are good in Kashmir, but now no one has any control over the situation. Helped in Corona but now the local people cannot do anything.

Never felt insecure before: Gautam
Gautam Kumar of Bihar, sitting in a bus to go to Jammu, says, ‘Has been working as a carpenter in Kashmir for 15 years. Never felt insecure.

Who will help my ailing parents: Suresh
Suresh of Rajasthan, who sells panipuri in Kashmir, says, the situation is bad. So we are returning to our home. Who will look after the sick parents if something happens to me?

Work is less in Bihar but will survive there: Vibhas
Vibhas Choudhary of Bihar’s Banka district says, “If something happens to me, what will happen to the family and small children. There is less work in Bihar but at least you will be alive there.