Security To Be Beefed Up For Kashmiri Pandit Govt Employees: J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha

During the incident, the government employees said that the police used force against them. Sinha said that an SIT probe will be conducted over the matter.

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday announced that security outside the residential areas of Kashmiri Pandit government employees in the valley would be increased and enquiry into the tear gas shelling would be conducted, according to an ANI report. A street protest broke out after the killing of a Kashmiri pandit government employee, Rahul Bhat. During which teargas was used to disperse the people at a protest. Following the protest, the J-K government constituted an SIT to probe the murder.

Speaking to ANI, the L-G said, they have constituted an SIT into the matter which would investigate all the facts. The employees working for the PM, have complained that the police have used force against them and the SIT would investigate this incident as well.

"Posting for all of them would be done at safer places in the coming seven days (districts centres and tehsil centres). The issues that they have raised to my secretary at the site of the incident, would surely be solved chronologically. We are completely with them and understand their pain. Security would be provided by the administration at the places where they are staying," Sinha added, appealing to the employees to keep patience and peace during this period.

The LG when asked about the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit said there are attempts to disrupt the peace in the area with “target killings”.

He called it an unfortunate incident and said some people are indulging in disrupting the peace. He further added that the administration is taking care of the incident with sensitivity. He said,  Rahul Bhat is concerned, it was a targeted killing. An attempt has been made to create an atmosphere of fear and terror. 

The L-G urged the political parties in the Union Territory and locals to come together to "create an atmosphere of peace".

"I want to urge the political leaders and parties and the locals of the Valley that this is the time to create an atmosphere of peace together. Some people are attempting to disrupt peace. Such attempts would be foiled. Two foreign terrorists involved in the incident have been killed. Rest others are under the police scanner. I have directed the administration not to use the force anywhere," he said.

Rahul Bhat, who worked as a clerk in Tehsil Office in Chadoora area of Budgam was gunned down by two militants at around 4:30 pm on Thursday after the gunmen entered the office full of employees. He was rushed to Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in Srinagar but soon after succumbed to his injuries.

Bhat, 35, was a resident in a migrant colony at Sheikhpora and was in service for eight years.