J&K govt to register non-locals in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 8 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government will register all non-locals working in different pats of the valley.

The move is to single out criminal elements and push them out of the Kashmir valley.

About two lakh non-locals, mostly labourers, are working in the valley.

Recently, a one-day general strike was observed in Kashmir, demanding that all non-locals should leave.

The agitators had alleged that non-locals were agents of the security agencies and other communal organsations. About 20,000 people, belonging from other parts of the country, left the valley after the threat.

The BJP had urged the state government to protect the non-locals.

In a damage control exercise, the state government has constituted a three-member joint committee, comprising the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police and the Assistant Labour Commissioner, in every district of the Kashmir valley to register the non-local labourers.

A circular, issued by the Home Department, asked the committees in the respective districts to register all the non-locals labourers and submit the report to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.

Official sources said the registration would be done by Tehsilder and Station House Officer (SHO), along with labour officers in their respective areas.

UNI