Kashmiri Shawl Seller Assaulted in Himachal Days After Uttarakhand Attack | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: A Kashmiri shawl seller was allegedly harassed and assaulted in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, days after two Kashmiri shawl sellers were attacked in Uttarakhand, triggering fresh concern over the safety of itinerant traders from the Valley working outside the Union Territory.

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said the victim, Mohd Ramzan, was allegedly intimidated and later assaulted by a man identified as Surjeet Rajput Guleria, who the association claimed had been involved in at least three similar incidents targeting Kashmiri shawl sellers in the past month.

Several social media posts show that Ramzan was repeatedly asked to prove his identity despite asserting that he is an Indian citizen. His shawl bundles were allegedly checked, and he was mockingly accused of carrying an AK-47 instead of merchandise.

Previously, there have been several instances where Kashmiri traders in parts of Himachal Pradesh faced intimidation, threats and pressure to stop selling their goods. JKSA described the Kangra incident as the fourth such case reported this year and alleged that, in most earlier instances, either no FIR was registered or complaints were diluted. Only one FIR has been lodged so far despite multiple complaints, it claimed.

The association criticised the state government and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for alleged inaction, saying the absence of swift arrests and preventive measures had emboldened those targeting traders. The association urged the Chief Minister to intervene, ensure identification and arrest of those responsible, and direct the police and district administration to safeguard Kashmiri traders and their livelihoods.