Rising tensions grip northern India as Kashmiri shawl sellers report a wave of brutal assaults, prompting Jammu-Kashmir Student Association leader Nasir Kheuhami to urge central authorities for robust protection measures.
In a detailed account to media, Kheuhami described how an 18-year-old student-vendor from Kupwara fell victim to a frenzied mob in Vikas Nagar. Prompted by a local Muslim Seva Sangathan, he spoke directly with the boy, who recounted being grilled on his Kashmiri Muslim identity amid discussions of terror-linked tragedies. The exchange turned violent; assailants wielded metal rods, inflicting grievous wounds that necessitated emergency medical intervention.
Kheuhami paints a broader picture of vulnerability. Vendors from Kashmir flock to Uttarakhand’s hills—Almora, Nainital, Dehradun—during winter breaks, sustaining families and boosting regional trade. Yet, sporadic incidents are fueling a dangerous narrative, collectively stigmatizing an entire community for the acts of a few.
‘ Kashmiris have always aligned with national interests,’ the victim emphasized through Kheuhami. ‘Target criminals with evidence, not innocents.’ This 30-40 year tradition of seasonal migration now hangs in balance, with sellers feeling increasingly unsafe despite their economic contributions.
The government must step up, Kheuhami demands, guaranteeing security for all J&K migrants and pursuing justice against perpetrators. Every citizen, regardless of origin, holds the constitutional right to earn a living across India’s expanse. Without decisive action, communal trust fractures, threatening the nation’s unity. These vendors aren’t threats—they’re the backbone of honest labor, deserving safety and respect.
