The incident is part of a disturbing trend of attacks on Kashmiri Muslims after the terror incidents in Pahalgam and elsewhere
KASHIPUR — A young Kashmiri shawl seller was mercilessly attacked, his wares looted and he was forced to chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” slogans. The helpless young man was also threatened with life by a mob allegedly associated with Bajrang Dal. The incident happened in Kashipur city of Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand on Thursday.
The victim, Bilal Ahmad Ganie, is not new to Kashipur as he has lived and worked here for about a decade. The mob was reportedly led by a local man named Ankur Singh. Ahmad was forced to chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and was punched repeatedly on his face and head when he refused.
The incident is part of a disturbing trend of attacks on Kashmiri Muslims after the terror incidents in Pahalgam and elsewhere.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), led by national convenor Nasir Khuehami said Ahmad was also threatened with eviction from the area, and his stock looted, and received death threats. “Bilal Ahmad has been living peacefully within the local community and is not a newcomer,” the JKSA stated, condemning the attack as an attempt to intimidate Kashmiri traders.
The students’ body urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure the immediate registration of an FIR and the arrest of those responsible. It also called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to raise the matter with his Uttarakhand counterpart and requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s intervention.
“Kashmiris are not outsiders in India. They are equal citizens and an integral part of this country, entitled to the same rights and protections under the Constitution,” the JKSA said.
The association warned that such acts of violence and communal intimidation deepen alienation and mistrust, threatening national unity. Reports indicate that several Kashmiri traders travelling outside the Valley for seasonal business have faced harassment and assaultsbecause of their religion, with similar incidents reported from Himachal Pradesh.
