Kashmiri Pandits in fear after 37 years, receive 2 threat letters in 17 days
The threats have been issued by a shadowy organization called the United Liberation Council (ULC).
The fear and pain of leaving home that Kashmiri Pandits were trying to forget has once again begun to spread in the valley. Kashmiri Pandit government employees stationed in Kashmir have expressed serious concerns about their safety after threatening posters surfaced on social media. These posters claim to contain the names, home addresses, phone numbers, and vehicle information of some employees. The employees have demanded an investigation into the leak of sensitive information and the strengthening of security arrangements.
These threats have been issued by a shadow organization called the 'United Liberation Council' or ULC.
The All PM Package Employees Forum Kashmir wrote in a letter to the Chief Secretary that,
A threatening poster dated August 23, 2026, is circulating on social media, creating an atmosphere of fear among employees and their families.
After the threatening letter surfaced, Kashmiri Pandits are once again living in fear. Even after 37 years of leaving home, the fear has not left their minds.
It is reported that this letter contains not only the names of Kashmiri Pandits but also their home addresses, vehicle colors, and registration numbers. The leak of personal information has heightened the community's concerns.
According to intelligence agencies,
these threatening letters have been issued by the 'United Liberation Council' or ULC through a Telegram channel. Agencies consider ULC to be a front organization for Lashkar-e-Taiba. It is reported that this organization is angry due to the seizure of properties linked to terrorists. ULC has claimed to target government departments and Kashmiri Pandits.
After the threats, the local administration has advised government employees and Kashmiri Pandits to work from home. 40-year-old Kashmiri Pandit Sahil Raina, who works in the revenue department and resides in Anantnag, says that,
Seeing such threats with our names on social media is extremely frightening. Our family experienced all this in the 1990s, and we had to leave Kashmir. Now our elders and parents are scared again. We do not want to see history repeat itself.
According to Sahil,
Security agencies should first find out who is posting the threatening letters on social media and how they obtained people's personal information.
He says,
If these letters are fake, it should be clarified. If they are real, the identities of those behind them should be established. It should also be determined whether they are being controlled from Pakistan or if someone else is behind them.
Sahil states that,
The government talks about resettling Kashmiri Pandits in the valley, but nearly six thousand employees who returned under the Prime Minister's package have not been able to settle properly here. According to them, information was provided in Parliament about approximately three thousand housing units, but many families still have not received homes.
Sahil wants the Union Home Minister to visit the valley and meet with employees and their families. He says,
“We returned trusting the government. It has been 37 years. The resettlement process should be expedited now.
Sahil mentions that,
The administration's 'work from home' advice is not a permanent solution. Children need to go to school, we need to go to the market, and we need to buy medicines for sick and elderly relatives. We want to live a normal and safe life.”
He has also appealed to civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations to condemn these threats. Sahil states that if the government cannot provide security, employees should be given licensed weapons and training for self-defense.
Rakesh Kaul, a displaced Kashmiri Pandit living in Jammu, says that,
These threatening letters have revived the old fear that forced them to leave their homes 37 years ago. Earlier, newspapers published messages telling us to leave Kashmir and labeling us as traitors. The same language is still being used today.
Rakesh Kaul said,
Agencies should reach the root of these threats, especially since the letters contain people's names and addresses. There is fear among Kashmiri Pandit families, but such threats cannot break our morale. We have witnessed over 400 years of history. Kashmiri Pandits have never bowed down and will not bow down.
Kaul claims that there are still many people in Kashmir who understand the contributions of Kashmiri Pandits and their right to return.
However, he says,
There are some who do not want us to return. The people writing these letters are among them. It is alleged that some of them have occupied the land and properties of displaced families.
According to Kaul, the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits for 37 years is not only a failure of various governments but also of society. He has demanded an investigation into the repeated threats and to uncover the people behind them and their motives.
Dr. Agnishekhar, the founder-coordinator of Panun Kashmir, has demanded separate land for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
Dr. Agnishekhar says that,
Governments claim that the situation in Kashmir has changed and millions of tourists are visiting the valley. If everything has truly changed, then why are Kashmiri Pandits still outside the valley? Why has their return and resettlement not happened even after the abrogation of Article 370?
Dr. Agnishekhar claims that,
The network of terror and its entire apparatus still exist. The nature of terrorism has changed, and new challenges like hybrid terrorism have emerged. Recent threats raise serious questions about the safety of employees who returned to Kashmir under the Prime Minister's package. If these employees and their families are not safe, then whose return are we talking about?”
Dr. Agnishekhar said that,
A solid policy is needed for the resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits. Working from home is not a permanent solution. Government employees and their families will have to step out to live a normal life. Recent threats could indicate preparations for a major incident. He has urged officials to take these threats seriously.
Police and security agencies are investigating whether the threatening letters are real or fake and where they were issued from. Attempts have been made to obtain responses from the police and administration regarding this matter, but no comments have been received from them.
Technocrat and social activist Sanjay Sapru has written an open letter to President Droupadi Murmu regarding the threats and the public disclosure of people's personal information. Sapru has demanded the President's intervention, urging that the central government and Jammu and Kashmir administration investigate the matter within a specific timeframe. He has also called for the exposure of those responsible for the threats and their entire network.
Recruitment under the Prime Minister's Special Package Kashmiri migrant employee Sunny Raina, working in the valley, said that,
“Similar threatening letters had emerged in the first week of August. However, the latest letter contains personal information of employees such as addresses of their homes in Jammu, vehicle numbers, and phone numbers.”
Raina said,
“Our personal information has been leaked and shared on social media.” He demanded that security agencies find out how and who provided sensitive information about employees to the threats.
He stated that,
“Kashmiri Pandit employees and their families are living in fear. As an immediate precaution, employees should be allowed to work from home. If that is not possible, adequate security should be deployed outside their homes and workplaces.”
According to Raina,
“Since the murder of PM Special Package employee Rahul Bhat in 2022, such threatening letters have been continuously emerging. He said, ‘We do not know where these threats are coming from. I believe this is the 36th or 37th threatening letter since Rahul Bhat's murder.’”
He compared the current situation to the 1990s and alleged that the old tactic of instilling fear in Kashmiri Pandits to force them to leave the valley is being employed again.
According to the All PM Package Employees Forum Kashmir,
“The police or security agencies have not yet confirmed the authenticity of the posters. However, the repeated circulation of such threatening letters containing personal and sensitive information is a matter of serious concern. The forum stated that the matter has been brought to the attention of the police and security agencies for verification and necessary action. The organization mentioned previous targeted attacks and stated that the alleged threatening posters have increased feelings of insecurity and fear among employees.”