A day after PM Package Pandit employees suspended their 310-day long strike seeking their relocation to Jammu, they have now decided to join back their duties from March 08 (Wednesday) onward.
Ranjan Jotshi, vice-president of All Migrant Displaced Employees Association Kashmir (AMDEAK) said after consultation with all stakeholders, they decided to call off the strike. “All employees will be joining duties in Kashmir on Wednesday,” he informed.
On Monday, the AMDEAK met Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri and he assured them that the administration has taken all measures for the security of Kashmiri Pandit employees in the valley.
Jotshi said even employees tried to highlight their demands at every level but there was no response from the LG Administration to the main demand of relocation to Jammu.
The financial crunch caused to the striking employees by withholding their salaries, he said it has compelled them to suspend their strike and resume their duties.
Under the PM package, around 6,000 Kashmiri Pandit employees have been hired by the J&K administration and posted in various government departments in Kashmir.
As part of the package, the administration is also constructing transit accommodations for the employees in Kashmir, some of which are already functional.
In an interview with Rising Kashmir, Inspector General CRPF (Kashmir Operations) M.S. Bhatia said CRPF along with J&K Police have put in place security mechanism whatever pockets are sensitive they are secured.
“Whatever the basic steps for security KP’s that have been taken over the past two years and it will continue in place,” he said.
“We are protecting certain pockets while some certain pockets are managed by J&K police. We are in regular touch with minorities and Kashmiri Pandits,” IG CRPF (Ops) said.
“Security precautions are taken to mitigate the threat. Deployments are supervised by senior officers from time to time,” he said.
The senior officer said they also engage with the employees to allay any fears and apprehensions they might have regarding their security.
“Terror modules who perpetrated acts of violence against the Kashmiri Pandits were killed. We make sure that area domination and patrolling in sensitive areas. We are committed to provide them full proof security,” he said.
On Feb 28, a Kashmiri Pandit, who worked as a bank guard, was shot dead by gunmen in Achan area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
