Kashmiri Pandit employees working in the Kashmir Valley have been advised to stay at home and exercise greater caution following the circulation of an online threat letter that allegedly named several government workers and warned them to “change their ways”.
The development has put a fresh threat on migrant workers who work in various government departments in the Valley. Police are investigating the authenticity of the threat letter and the group that claimed responsibility for it.
Some government departments were verbally advised to keep the affected employees away from their workplaces and to move to safer locations, The Indian Express reported.
Threat Letter Names Government Employees
The threat letter was apparently circulated online by a group calling itself the United Liberation Council. The document allegedly names Kashmiri Pandit government employees and contains warnings against them.
The letter is being investigated to see whether it is real and if the organisation claiming responsibility has any actual operational presence there.
A police officer quoted by The Indian Express said the group had first appeared in July, when it circulated a poster marking the death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
The officer said the group may be a “shadow group” of Lashkar, although the authenticity and background of the organisation are still being investigated.
The investigation is expected to be about the origin of the online material, the identities of those behind it and whether the threat poses an immediate security risk to the employees named in the document.
No Formal Government Order Reported
While some employees were advised to stay at home, there is no formal government order asking Kashmiri Pandit employees to take leave or work remotely.
Several departments, particularly the Revenue Department and schools, were verbally advised to exercise caution and not to leave some employees at home while others work at the same time, sources said.
But it has been denied that a blanket work-from-home or leave directive has been issued.
Naseer Ahmad Wani, School Education Director, said no instructions were asking the employees to stay home or work remotely.
“We have not asked any employee to work from home or take leave,” Wani said, adding that the employees were continuing to report for duty.
The lack of a formal order on verbal security advice and the confusion in employees going to and from work adds to the uncertainty for employees.
Security Tightened Amid Concerns
According to the letter, security measures have been strengthened following the release of the threat material. Staff who are named in the letter have been advised to be especially vigilant and, according to reports, to stay away from their workplaces until August 20.
The situation has caused new anxiety among migrant employees hired in the Valley under the Prime Minister’s package.
According to the latest estimate, about 9,000 employees are working in the Kashmir Valley under the package, with the safety of their families and employees’ associations being a major concern.
Employees Say Staying Indoors Is Not a Long-Term Solution
The reported instructions have also made employees question their ability to lead normal lives while dealing with security threats.
Sunny Raina, president of the All Prime Minister's Package Employees Association, said staying indoors indefinitely would not provide a sustainable solution.
Raina said employees need to leave their homes for everyday activities, such as food, medicines and other essential household items.
All of the comments underscore the broader fears among migrant workers who have always craved better security and protection while working in the Valley.
Memories of 2022 Attacks Resurface
The latest threat has also revived memories of attacks on Kashmiri Pandit employees in 2022.
Five employees were killed in militant attacks at the time, causing widespread protests among government workers recruited under the Prime Minister’s package. Workers asked for safe transfers to safer places outside the Kashmir Valley, citing safety concerns.
The latest online threat therefore comes at a sensitive time for the community.
For now, police are verifying the threat letter and investigating the group behind it. The document has not yet been publicly acknowledged as legitimate, and authorities are not making it public that an imminent attack is planned.
But the reported security measures also point to continuing concerns over the safety of migrant government employees in the Valley, in particular those whose names may have appeared in threat material circulated online.
