Section 144 has been imposed as Kashmiri Pandits protest in Jammu demanding the relocation and payment of their pending salaries

15-02-223 : In a significant development, Kashmiri Pandit employees in Jammu have escalated their protests over their safety and demanded the release of pending salaries ahead of the upcoming Maha Shivratri festival on February 18. These employees have been demonstrating for more than eight months in the wake of targeted killings in the valley. Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit employees, who were appointed under the Prime Minister’s employment package and reserved category staffers, staged a massive protest, calling for their relocation out of the valley and the immediate release of their pending salaries.

However, due to concerns about the law and order situation, the J&K police apprehended the protesting employees on Wednesday, and Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been enforced, prohibiting the gathering of four or more individuals in the specified area, as per sources.