Migrant workers flee Kashmir as violence escalates
This escalation in violence has forced many migrant workers to reassess their future in Kashmir
Ravi Kumar, a 29-year-old migrant from Ranchi, Jharkhand, had been working in Kashmir for over three years. As a labourer in the construction, he had been able to support his family back home with the money he earned. But after hearing about the killing of his fellow workers, Kumar, too, is planning to leave the valley, his face painted with fear and uncertainty.
“I had come here with the dream of giving my family a better life. I sent money back every month, and things were going well for me. But now, I am scared to even go out of my room. After hearing about the killings in Shopian, Ganderbal, and other places, I have made up my mind to leave. I can’t risk my life for money anymore,” Kumar tells Media India Group.
Kumar’s decision to leave comes amid an alarming rise in the targetted killings of migrant workers in Kashmir, a trend that has struck fear into the hearts of many like him. What was once a region where non-local labourers found steady work and decent wages has transformed into a place of danger, with alleged terrorists increasingly focusing on the migrant workforce. The wave of killings that began in October has now escalated, creating a deep sense of unease among those who have relied on Kashmir for a better livelihood.
The first major blow came on October 17, when Ashok Chauhan, a 30-year-old migrant labourer from Bihar, was found dead in a maize field in Shopian. His body was riddled with bullets, a grim reminder of the rising violence targeting those who have come to the region in search of work. This attack was the beginning of a series of killings that would soon spread across the region, catching workers off guard and leaving them fearful for their safety.
The violence did not end with Ashok’s death. Just two days later, suspected terrorists attacked an under-construction site in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, opening fire indiscriminately on workers. Five migrant labourers, along with two local residents, including a doctor, were killed in this brutal assault. The attack sent shockwaves through the community of migrant workers, who had been relying on jobs in the region’s agriculture, construction, and brick kiln industries.
The attacks didn’t stop there. Four days later, in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, militants shot at a migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh, injuring him in yet another targetted assault. The attacks created a feeling of terror that wasn’t confined to just one region; it spread rapidly across different parts of Kashmir, making it clear that no worker, no matter where they were employed, was safe.
“I can’t sleep at night anymore. Every time I hear a loud noise, my heart races. I think, this is it. They are coming.’ It is like living on the edge of a nightmare that never ends. We don’t know who to trust anymore not the locals, not even the other workers. The fear is all-consuming. It is always in the back of your mind, no matter where you go or what you do. You hear someone shout, or a vehicle passing by, and for a second, your body freezes, waiting for the sound of gunfire. You are always looking over your shoulder, wondering if this will be the day they will come for you. It is not just about the danger it is the mental exhaustion of living with this constant, suffocating fear. No matter how hard you try to keep working, to pretend everything is okay, your mind can’t escape the terror that surrounds you. Every day feels like it could be your last,” Kumar adds.
This escalation in violence has forced many migrant workers to reassess their future in Kashmir. The increasing frequency of attacks, particularly those targetting non-local labourers, has made it impossible for them to ignore the dangers anymore.
“We can’t even go to the fields or work on construction sites without worrying about being attacked. What is the point of staying if we are going to die?” Kumar adds.
In November, two migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh were shot in an alleged terror attack at Budgam in Srinagar, further escalating the climate of fear among the region’s migrant workforce. This attack is part of a growing pattern of violence, with targeted assaults on labourers becoming a monthly occurrence. Each month, migrant workers in Kashmir face the looming threat of violence, as terrorist groups continue to target them in an attempt to destabilise the region. The increasing frequency of these attacks has left many workers living on edge, with no guarantee of safety, as the violence continues to spread across various districts in the region.
As the killings continue to escalate, a growing number of migrant workers, who once formed a vital part of Kashmir’s labour force, are now fleeing in droves. The fear of becoming the next victim of targeted violence has driven many to abandon their jobs and make the difficult decision to return to their home states. They are leaving behind the promise of a better life in Kashmir, where wages were once higher and opportunities seemed plentiful, in search of safety and a sense of security. It is not just the workers from Bihar or Uttar Pradesh who are leaving; labourers from all corners of India are packing their belongings and heading back to the unknown, as the terror that has gripped the region shows no sign of easing. Among them is 34-year-old Prakash Dev from Lucknow who has spent the past few years working in the paddy fields of Kashmir.
“I have packed my clothes, and I am leaving tomorrow. I never thought it would come to this. I have been here for years, working in the paddy fields, building a future. But now I am just too scared to stay. I never imagined it would get this bad. It is not just about the work anymore; it is about survival. Every day, I wake up and wonder if this is the day they will come for me. I can’t live like this anymore, with that constant fear hanging over me. The money, the work, none of it matters when your life is at risk. I don’t want to die for a paycheck. I have been trying to be strong, to keep going for my family, but I can’t pretend anymore. The fear is too much. I need to go back, to be with my loved ones, even if that means starting over. I can’t stay here and live in constant fear. It’s just not worth it anymore,” Dev tell Media India Group.
Dev reflects on the stark difference in his sense of safety since the abrogation. Despite the tensions that followed, he never felt as unsafe as he does now, with the recent surge in violence
“When the abrogation happened, I didn’t feel as unsafe as I do now. There was tension, yes, but I still felt like I could go about my work. This is different. I have never felt such a deep, constant fear. It is like everything’s changed overnight, and now I can’t shake the feeling that danger is always just around the corner. This kind of fear, it is unbearable. It is not the Kashmir I came to know,” Dev adds.
While many migrant workers are fleeing Kashmir due to fear some, like Raza Khan, a 57-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, have chosen to stay, unwavering in their attachment to the region that has become their home. Khan, who has lived in Kashmir for the past 20 years with his younger son, who sells fruits, while Khan himself sells winter snacks on the bustling streets of Baramulla, speaks with a quiet confidence.
“I don’t have any fear, In 20 years, I have never felt unsafe Non local here. This place has become my second home. It is not just the work that keeps me here, it is the life I have built, the community I am a part of. My son and I, we have struggled, worked hard, and made this place our own. Kashmir has given us not just a livelihood, but a sense of belonging, something you can’t find everywhere. I have seen so much in these 20 years, but I have no intention of leaving. I have built my life here, and I won’t walk away from it now, no matter what. It is not about fear; it is about the life I have made, and the home I have found,” Khan tells Media India Group.
