Why were the migrant labourers killed in Kashmir?

Five migrant labourers working over 2,000 km away from home in the Kulgaum district of the Kashmir valley will not ever return to their villages as they were eliminated by terrorists. No longer have they any responsibility of sending money back home to a remote village in West Bengal where their wives bring up undernourished children.

Apparently, their killers were the brave fighters of Jaish e Muhhammad, a terrorist group based in Pakistan. All five were followers of the same faith as is the one most practiced in the valley. There were other reasons for attacking this lot.

Since they are migrants to the valley, the response of the locals would definitely not be at the level to be expected had it been six Kashmiri men. In fact, none of the half dozen killings of truck drivers and apple traders that preceded the killing of the labourers belonged to the valley.

Today, every Indian has the right to live and own property in J&K like they do in the rest of the country. The message from the terror groups is that none but Kashmiris are welcome to Kashmir. All others, irrespective of caste, clan, and religious affinity better stay out. The message by the insurgent group is clear.

The terrorists will allow only those who have faith and belief and practice their tenets to live in the Kashmir valley. By killing the migrant labourers the availability of labour in the valley stands choked. The killings will affect the carting out of the valley's biggest trading commodity -- apples.