Kashmiris take refuge in Surat

SURAT: Rafique Mohammed Pathan, 47, is a farmer in Jammu & Kashmir's

Kupwara district

. His family is dependent on income from the farm, where he cultivates paddy and corn.


This year's record-breaking snowfall not only covered his farm, but his house as well at Manigah village. Left with no choice, Rafique migrated with his two children and wife to the Diamond City. Since Rafique has no source of employment in Surat, he has to literally beg for food and money to support his family.

Kashmiris

living in makeshift camps at Mithikhadi area.
Besides Rafique’s family, another 400-odd Kashmiris have also migrated to Surat due to snowfall and are staying in rented hutments on Rander-Gorat Road. Many youngsters, who are studying in schools and colleges, will return to their villages after March. According to migrant Kashmiris, hundreds of them have taken shelter in Ahmedabad,

Ankleshwar

and Mumbai in Muslim localities.

Javid Pathan, 20, looks after his small siblings in an 10x10 hut, while his parents go out every morning, begging for food and money.

“We moved out of the village due to heavy snowfall this season. This is first time that we have arrived in Surat. Since we are Kashmiris, people here do not offer us work. My father and mother must compulsorily beg to feed us,” says Javid.

Javid says residents living along the international border and Line of Control (LOC) with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir are also experiencing sleepless nights since the beginning of New Year due to heavy exchange of fire from both sides.

Mohammed Yasin, a resident of Arnia town near international border, blames the government for not addressing their problem. “The project of individual and community bunkers is yet to be taken up by the government. We want land plots at safe place as promised to us several years ago. This will prevent people from migrating during heavy snowfall and terrorist attacks.”

Ranjan Patel, who provides rented huts to migrant Kashmiris, said, “These migrant Kashmiris have documents to establish their identities. I have to keep their documents with me to furnish to police whenever they demand them. This time around, I have sheltered around 150 people in the hutments here on Rander-Gorat Road. Many are staying in Limbayat and Bhatena areas of the city too. It is very sad that they have to beg for food and money and that there is no government help for them. Certain people are unable to pay rent and therefore I allow them to stay free.”

Juned Bhat, a nine-year-old boy, goes with his mother to beg in Rander market every evening. Juned, who is from Manigah village, said, “I feel very shy begging in front of people. Without food and money, we will not be able to survive for long here. People here look at my mother differently, because she is fair and beautiful. So, I have to be with her always.”

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