Police debunk reports of non-local workers being asked to leave Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have categorically denied social media reports claiming that authorities have asked non-local workers to vacate the Kashmir Valley.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V K Birdi, refuted these rumors, calling them baseless and urging the public not to be misled by false information circulating on social media platforms.

“Social media reports claiming the local administration has asked non-local workers to leave the valley are false. The Jammu and Kashmir Police is committed to ensuring security and fostering a safe environment for all individuals to pursue their livelihoods without fear or intimidation. The general public is advised not to pay heed to such false information on social media platforms,” Kashmir Zone Police stated in a post on X.

Authorities have also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and to rely on official channels for accurate updates. The police have warned that appropriate legal action will be taken against those found responsible for disseminating false reports.

Earlier in the morning, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti urged Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene over allegations that the local administration is pressuring non-local laborers to leave the Valley.

Her remarks come in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in Ganderbal district in which seven people were killed.

Mufti, former Chief Minister of J&K, expressed concern that this "knee-jerk" response could harm J&K's image, especially following peaceful and terror-free elections.

"After the barbaric attack in Sonamarg, there are reports that the local administration is forcing non-local laborers to leave immediately. While I understand the panic, forcing them to leave is not a solution," she said in a post on X. She added that such actions could create additional difficulties and send a negative message about Jammu and Kashmir, which recently held peaceful elections.

Mufti cautioned that this reaction might fuel anger against Kashmiris working or studying in other states. She urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and LG Manoj Sinha to intervene and ensure that laborers are given sufficient time before any decisions are made.

The appeal followed Sunday’s terror attack in Ganderbal, where seven people, including a Kashmiri doctor and several construction workers, were killed at a site linked to the Srinagar-Leh national highway project.

The victims included three laborers, a manager, a mechanical engineer, and a designer.

According to police, at least two terrorists opened fire on the workers' camp in the Gagangeer area of Ganderbal, making it one of the deadliest civilian attacks in J&K since June.