Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has warned that recent threats against Kashmiri Pandit employees in the Valley should not be taken lightly and urged authorities to ensure their safety. Abdullah referred to the history of targeted attacks against minorities in Kashmir and called for action against those responsible for issuing the latest threats. His remarks come after hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit employees were placed on administrative leave amid heightened security concerns.

The employees were reportedly sent on administrative leave until August 25 following the circulation of a threat letter allegedly issued by a group linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. The letter reportedly named some employees and included their contact details. Official sources said employees appointed under the Prime Minister's Special Employment Package were advised to move to safer locations, while those specifically named in the alleged letter were shifted to Jammu.

Police have launched an investigation into the threats and said security measures were being taken as a precaution. Some employees still residing in the Valley were reportedly advised not to attend work and remain at home until further instructions. The administration has been assessing the security situation around the affected employees while investigators work to establish the source and credibility of the alleged threat letter.

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The Prime Minister's Special Employment Package was introduced in 2010 to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits displaced from the Valley following the outbreak of the armed insurgency in 1990. Around 6,000 Kashmiri Pandits have received government jobs under the scheme. In 2022, targeted attacks killed five Kashmiri Pandit employees and triggered protests by PM package employees demanding transfers to Jammu. The government instead shifted many employees to safer locations in Srinagar and other major towns.

The latest threats come amid wider security concerns in Kashmir. The annual Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3 and was scheduled to continue until August 28, was suspended on the traditional Anantnag-Pahalgam route on July 23. The pilgrimage was later curtailed and suspended from August 9, with officials citing factors including low pilgrim footfall, weather advisories and track repair work.

Security concerns had also increased following separate targeted attacks in south Kashmir. On July 22, a policeman was killed in Anantnag town after terrorists allegedly fired at him at close range, while two migrant workers were killed in a separate incident in Kulgam. Against this backdrop, Omar Abdullah has stressed that the threats against Kashmiri Pandit employees require a serious response, with both security and investigation measures needed to protect those affected.

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