‘We Feel Safe in Kashmir, No Plans to Leave’ – A Non-Kashmiri Laborer Speaks

After the killing of four non-Kashmiri migrant labourers in Kashmir, hundreds fled Kashmir in a matter of days. However, thousands decided to stay back. Anees Ahmad, from North India’s Uttar Pradesh, has been running a sweet shop for the past twelve years in Sholipora village of Budgam. “Local people always support us in difficult times, we never felt unsafe, people are good here”. Anees lives along with his family. The recent civilian killings in which 33 people were killed across Kashmir at the hands of what government officials call ‘unknown gunmen’ left the whole region on edge.