J-Okay: Kashmiri Pandits take out ‘Thali Bajao’ protest march over Rahul Bhat’s killing

By PTI

SRINAGAR: Kashmiri Pandit workers on Tuesday took out a march within the Anantnag district and banged utensils as a part of a ‘Thali Bajao’ protest towards the killing of Rahul Bhat final week.

Bhat, who had received the job of a clerk beneath the particular employment bundle for migrants in 2010-11, was gunned down by terrorists contained in the tehsil workplace in Chadoora city of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday.

Braving rains, the protestors beneath the banner of All PM Package Employees Forum marched on the freeway banging utensils and elevating slogans demanding justice.

Earlier within the day, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar had visited the Kashmiri Pandits at their protest web site and mentioned that terrorists can goal them in the event that they stayed on street.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday advocated pro-active coordinated counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir as he held three back-to-back conferences to assessment the scenario there in addition to preparations for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra and requested safety forces to make sure zero cross-border infiltration to wipe out terrorism within the union territory.

The marathon conferences held by the house minister got here within the backdrop of latest focused killings within the valley which included a Kashmiri pandit Rahul Bhat, who was gunned down by terrorists final week.

During the conferences, which was attended by Lt Governor of JK Manoj Sinha, police chief Dibag Singh and different high central and union territory officers, Shah was knowledgeable that this yr’s 42-day-long yatra, starting on June 30, can have a Radio Frequency Identification Card (RFID) for each pilgrim in addition to an insurance coverage cowl of Rs 5 lakh.

While Sinha was current in all of the three conferences, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande attended the conferences to debate the safety scenario within the union territory.

An official spokesman in a press release mentioned the house minister directed safety forces and the police to conduct coordinated counter-terrorism operations pro-actively.

The residence minister mentioned as a way to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s imaginative and prescient of a affluent and peaceable Jammu and Kashmir, safety forces ought to guarantee zero cross-border infiltration to wipe out terrorism within the union territory.

In one other assertion, the spokesman mentioned the JK chief secretary knowledgeable the assembly that every pilgrim might be supplied with a RFID and might be insured with Rs 5 lakh.

Earlier, RFID was supplied to autos solely.

Shah mentioned a “hassle-free” journey for the pilgrims is a precedence of the Modi authorities and directed that each one preparations, together with further electrical energy, water, and telecom amenities be made.

He additionally burdened for enhancement of cell connectivity alongside the yatra route as he directed that earth shifting tools must be positioned at vantage factors to clear the route in case of landslides.

This is the primary yatra after the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result of excessive altitude, sufficient preparations must be made for yatris who’ve any health-related issues, he mentioned.

The residence minister requested for an sufficient variety of oxygen cylinders, medical beds at an altitude of greater than 6,000 toes and deployment of ambulances and helicopters to cope with any emergency medical scenario.

All classes of transport providers must be elevated through the Amarnath Yatra for the comfort of passengers.

During the assembly, it was additionally determined to allow WiFi hotspots to make sure connectivity all through the 39 km of the yatra route from Pahalgam in south Kashmir.

The different route is thru Baltal in central Kashmir the place a pilgrim treks for practically 15 km.

The yatra, which presents a giant safety problem for the federal government, couldn’t happen in 2020 and 2021 as a result of coronavirus pandemic and was minimize quick in 2019 simply earlier than the abrogation of Article 370.

About three lakh pilgrims are probably to participate within the pilgrimage that’s anticipated to finish on August 11.

About 12,000 paramilitary personnel (120 firms) along with Jammu and Kashmir Police are anticipated to be deployed alongside the 2 pilgrimage routes, one from Pahalgam and the opposite by way of Baltal, officers mentioned.

Drone cameras will assist the safety forces to make sure the safety of the pilgrims.

Besides the Amarnath pilgrimage, the conferences additionally reviewed the safety association particularly within the wake of a number of focused killings, together with of Kashmiri Pandits, in Kashmir.

There has been a spurt in assaults on non-Muslims and outsiders dwelling within the Kashmir valley because the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019 which accorded particular standing to Jammu and Kashmir.

The safety assessment comes following a spate of killings within the union territory.

On May 12, Bhat, a authorities worker, was killed by terrorists inside his workplace in Budgam district.

A day after, police constable Reyaz Ahmad Thokar was shot lifeless by terrorists at his residence within the Pulwama district.

Also final week, 4 pilgrims have been killed and not less than 20 injured when the bus they have been travelling in caught fireplace close to Katra in Jammu.

Police suspect a sticky bomb might need been used to set off the fireplace.

Bhat’s killing triggered protests by members of the Kashmiri Pandit group who staged protests within the Valley demanding enhanced safety and switch of presidency workers to safer places.

On Sunday, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a conglomerate of main J-Okay events, urged Kashmiri Pandit workers to not go away the Valley because it was their residence and it could be painful for all.

Top officers of the ministries of well being, telecom, street transport, civil aviation and IT took half within the assembly to debate logistics for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine devoted to Lord Shiva at an altitude of three,888 metres.