Authorities in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have initiated criminal proceedings and launched search operations following two separate incidents of alleged assault and intimidation targeting Kashmiri shawl sellers in the states. The cases, registered under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), have prompted intervention from student groups and assurances of strict action from Chief Ministers.
Incident in Himachal's Bilaspur: Masked Assailants on Motorcycle
In Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, an FIR was registered based on the complaint of Abdul Ahad Khan, a shawl vendor hailing from Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident occurred in the Ghumarwin main market. According to Superintendent of Police (SP), Bilaspur, Sandeep Dhawal, three masked individuals arrived on a motorcycle. One of them confronted and assaulted Khan, while the others were present. The assailants also allegedly damaged the vendor's goods.
SP Dhawal stated that Khan sustained simple injuries. The police are examining CCTV footage from the market area to identify the accused and trace their motorcycle. A case has been registered under Sections 126(2), 115(2), and 324(4) of the BNS, and the investigation is utilizing both traditional and digital methods.
Haryana Incidents: Videos Spark Outrage, Swift Police Response
Separately, Haryana Police registered an FIR in Kaithal district concerning an alleged assault on a Kashmiri shawl seller. The police action followed the circulation of a video from the Kalayat area dated December 30, 2025. The footage showed a local man, speaking in the Haryanvi dialect, confronting a vendor seated on a bench. The man referenced atrocities in Bangladesh and demanded the vendor chant "Vande Mataram," threatening to set him ablaze if he did not leave.
SP Kaithal Upasna confirmed that police took suo motu cognizance of the video and promptly registered a case. The FIR was filed at Kalayat Police Station under Sections 196(1), 299, and 353(1) of the BNS. Police teams have been mobilized, raids are being conducted at multiple locations, and the accused are expected to be apprehended soon.
Another incident from Fatehabad district also came to light via a video where a man was seen holding a Kashmiri vendor by his collar and forcing him to chant "Bharat Mata ki Jai." A woman attempted to intervene. Fatehabad SP Sidhant Jain said both individuals were brought to the police station for counselling. The vendor was asked to file a formal complaint regarding the December 28 incident to initiate legal action. The Chief Minister's Office has assured that an FIR will be registered in this case as well.
Political and Institutional Intervention
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) played a pivotal role in escalating the matter. The association wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking urgent intervention and also urged Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to take up the issue.
Following their outreach, the JKSA's National Convenor, Nasir Khuehami, stated that Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini took serious note of the Kaithal incident. The Chief Minister's Media Advisor, Rajeev Jaitly, informed Khuehami that an FIR was registered promptly and police teams were dispatched. The advisor conveyed the CM's clear message that acts of harassment, intimidation, and violence against Kashmiri traders will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and exemplary action would be taken.
The JKSA welcomed the swift action but reiterated that the recurring pattern of such incidents across states is deeply concerning. They have called for strict, time-bound, and deterrent action to prevent any recurrence and ensure the safety and dignity of Kashmiri citizens working across India.
