Encouraged by local businessmen, non-locals decide to stay back in Kashmir

SOPORE — At a time when non-locals have been leaving Kashmir after a surge in attacks on them in Kashmir Valley, people associated with fruit business in north Kashmir’s Sopore town have encouraged and pledged to secure non-locals associated with fruit business.

Over 200 non-locals associated with fruit business have decided to stay back in Kashmir after encouraged by people at Fruit Mandi Sopore.

While talking to news agency Kashmir News Trust, President Sopore Fruit Mandi, Fayaz Ahmed Malik alias Kakaji said that these non-locals were living at different places in town. “We assured them they are safe here and nobody will harm them,” he said.

Malik said they will incur losses in case these non-locals associated with fruit business leave Kashmir. “We have transactions with them. Most of them are our buyers and we will certainly incur losses if they leave Sopore,” Malik said.

He said no doubt these non-locals are scared and wanted to move to safer places. “We assured and encouraged them and they decided to stay here which is a good thing for us,” he said.

There are reports that non-local labourers who were in Kashmir to earn a living are fleeing. At least five non-locals have been shot dead by unknown gunmen since October 6 this month.