Kashmir hardline group asks migrant labourers to leave state

Jammu and Kashmir Realistic Front (JKRF) today forced a shutdown here, demanding all migrant labourers to leave the State.

Srinagar, Aug 3 : Jammu and Kashmir Realistic Front (JKRF) today forced a shutdown here, demanding all migrant labourers to leave the State.

Roads were deserted and shops remained closed, except for isolated vehicles or pedestrians and security forces.

The demand was prompted after two non-Kashmiri labourers were arrested on suspicion of raping and killing a 14-year-old girl.

"They want to make Kashmir as a criminal hub. So, we will make sure that each and every Bihari labourer is out of the state. We will not touch the ones who study or do business here," Hilal Ahmed War, Chairman of the JKRF.

Hilal asked the Bihari labourers to respectfully leave the state otherwise they, along with the government, will be responsible for the consequences.

There are no official figures, but thousands of migrant labourers, masons and carpenters, mostly hailing from Bihar, work in the state.

"Here, 45 per cent of the work force is non-Kashmiri. And in Bihar, Kashmiris take their traditional crafts and go from here in large numbers. So there is an exchange of cultures and traditions. And if we tell the Biharis to go back they will send the Kashmiris back as well. What will that achieve?," asked Sanam Aijaz, a resident.

Earlier, a militant group had earlier asked migrant labourers in the state to quit, withdrew its call within a week, after an exodus of hundreds of non-Kashmiri labourers.

ANI