Srinagar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers in Jammu and Kashmir were already in panic mode following the killing of Wasim Bari along with two family members, last week. A sense of fear among the party flag bearers in Kashmir further escalated after a senior leader was tested positive for COVID-19, and today a leader from Baramulla was abducted and had to be rescued by cops later.
Talking to ETV Bharat on phone, a BJP worker from south Kashmir said, "We don't know about our future. It appears to be very scary. Some unidentified persons are trying to instil fear among us all. That's why they are resorting to such activities - killing, abduction and threat calls. Security forces too are not doing anything for us despite knowing the situation we are in. What option are we left within such circumstances?"
He further claimed, "some party leaders have resigned and some others too might be quitting soon."
When ETV Bharat contacted local administration over the issues raised by the BJP workers, they claimed that "it's not possible to provide security to each and everyone."
"Kashmir is not a normal place. The political workers and leaders are leading a life full of pressure and danger. We understand that but we can't provide security to each and everyone on our own. There are some political activists who have denied security cover," a senior police officer said, adding, "We have so far provided security cover to all those who have requested for the same."
Read: After 12 hour search, J-K cops rescue abducted BJP leader
Explaining the difficulty in providing security to all the political workers, the officer said, "We have our own constraints too. Currently, we have 90,000 personnel and they are not enough to provide security cover to all political workers of the Valley. We have provided security cover to former ministers, politicians and even journalists who have requested for security cover citing life threat. But, again providing security cover to everyone is next to impossible."
However, another BJP worker from north Kashmir claims that "security cover can't cheat death."
"There were at least 10 police personnel deputed for Wasim Bari's security. Still, he was killed along with father and brother. Why couldn't security save him? Our lives are in danger whether there is security cover or not," he said.
He further said, "Today one of our colleagues from Baramulla was abducted by unidentified men. This is not the first time. In 2018, one of our colleagues was first kidnapped, later his body was recovered. Our party and administration always provide us with false hopes that steps to end this are being taken but actually nothing changes on the ground."
Mehrajuddin Malla, who was allegedly abducted by unidentified men in Baramulla district was rescued by the cops 12 hours after the abduction incident.
Another party worker from central Kashmir's Budgam district echoed his colleagues, saying, "We don't matter for anyone but our families matter for us."
