Srinagar: A threatening letter directed at government employees, specifically targeting those who are Kashmiri Pandits, has triggered significant concern in the Valley. Following the emergence of this letter earlier this month, many government workers have opted to vacate their homes, seeking refuge in safer locations. Reports indicate that some have even halted their work due to the anxiety stemming from the threat.
The package was introduced to support the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits who had left the Valley after violence forced large numbers of families to move to Jammu and other parts of India in the early 1990s. Referring to the 2022 killing of Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit revenue department employee who was shot dead by suspected militants, he said, “If it can happen once, it can happen again. The scheme was announced by the Manmohan Singh government in 2008 and upgraded in 2015 under the Narendra Modi government.
Opposition leaders have cited the recent attacks and the threat letter while questioning the government’s handling of security in the Valley. He added, “The central government and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration, which handles security in Jammu and Kashmir, cannot have it both ways. Because of fear among a minority community.”, they cannot claim victory over terrorism in press briefings while imposing work-related restrictions.
Around 9,000 Kashmiri Pandits have received government jobs and accommodation in different parts of the Valley under the prime minister’s special rehabilitation package. The BJP government has repeatedly said that the removal of Article 370 helped end militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Amit Shah had said in Parliament that the abrogation of Article 370 would make Jammu and Kashmir free from militancy and create a safe place for our displaced community,” he said. “But today in 2026, government employees from the same community are once again being asked to stay away from their workplaces because their lives are at risk,” he said.
