Search the Internet          Tips

Contractors stop working for
Army after militants' threats

Josy Joseph in Srinagar

A fresh crisis stares in the face of already perplexed security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir, as hundreds of civilian contractors working for them have been threatened by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba against serving the Indian agencies.

Almost all civilian contract works for the Army have come to a standstill in the past few days as a result, Army officials say.

In a strong warning, Lashkar militants recently gunned down a clerical-level employee of one of the local contractors who had been supplying items to the Army Supply Corps.

Frightened contractors have for the time being suspended all their works for the Army. They have issued open appeals to the militants to allow them to work. But there has been no response.

"This is after a long time such a crisis is coming up. As of now, we don't have any visible problem. But in the long run it could have a severe fallout," admits an Army officer.

The Army depends on civilian contractors for the supply of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and other items, besides new constructions and maintenance and upkeep of their installations.

The contractors mainly work for the Army Supply Corps and Military Engineering Service. To ASC they supply grocery, fresh vegetables etc and for MES they carry out constructions and maintenance of buildings and roads.

The contractors are meeting in Srinagar on Wednesday to decide the future course of action. "We will look at all possibilities, and explore all avenues. Millions of rupees of contracts are pending. We cannot just leave it all there," argues an army contractor, refusing to be named.

He also points out that there are numerous locals who are employed with them in these works. "In fact, we provide steady jobs to a few thousand youths in this Valley where unemployment is so high," he says.

Contractors are also planning to call on Syed Ali Shah Geelani, senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader who is known for his hardline stand, in the next few days to seek his assistance.

According to contractors and army officers, all middle-level and small-time contractors have completely stopped their work. While, some big players continue to supply some essential items. "How long they will carry on this is anybody's guess," says a senior Army official.

Contractors say that besides the denial of daily wages to hundreds of people employed with them, the threat has also put them in a fix over their pending payments. "There are some who have an outstanding payment from Army running into millions," says a senior contractor in Srinagar.

According to estimates, there would be over a few hundred contractors working for security agencies in the Valley.

And all of them together would be employing a few thousand people. "We provide jobs to a substantial number of people," a contractor says.

The contractors recently issued a public appeal to the militants pointing out that they are not directly assisting the forces. ASC and MES are agencies that are not directly involved in armed operations.

"We would be meeting Geelani saab. We hope he will find some solution to our problem," say contractors.

For now, the Army is surviving on regular supply coming in through some major contractors. And, civilian staff of the MES is carrying the necessary maintenance work.

The Kashmir Cease-Fire: The Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report