Kashmiri Trader Severely Beaten in Himachal, Association Outraged
A fresh incident of violence against a Kashmiri shawl seller in Himachal Pradesh has triggered strong condemnation from the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA). The association reported that the trader was brutally assaulted, leaving him with multiple injuries and fractures, and was threatened to leave the state.
Details of the Violent Assault
The victim has been identified as Jehangir Ahmad, who has been selling shawls in the Dehra area of Kangra district for the past 15 years. According to the JKSA, which has been monitoring such cases for eight years, Ahmad was mercilessly thrashed, threatened, abused, and told to leave Himachal Pradesh.
He sustained serious injuries, including fractures, and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the state. Nasir Khuehami, the national convenor of JKSA, stated that this marks the 16th incident targeting Kashmiri traders in Himachal Pradesh in 2024 alone.
Calls for Immediate Government Action
In response, the JKSA has urgently appealed to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister to take decisive action. "We urge the Himachal CM to take immediate and decisive action. Such behaviour must not go unchecked," Khuehami emphasized.
The association has also highlighted a related case of alleged harassment faced by another Kashmiri shawl seller in Kaithal, Haryana. Khuehami said he spoke with Rajeev Jaitly, the media advisor to the Haryana Chief Minister, who assured him that acts of violence and intimidation against Kashmiri sellers "will not be tolerated at any cost."
Political Reaction and Demand for Permanent Solution
Echoing the demand for safety, Tanvir Sadiq, the chief spokesperson of the National Conference, called for both immediate action and a long-term resolution. "These incidents are deeply disturbing and unacceptable. The safety and dignity of Kashmiris living outside Jammu and Kashmir must be ensured at all costs," Sadiq asserted.
The repeated attacks have raised serious concerns about the security and well-being of Kashmiri entrepreneurs conducting business in other parts of India, prompting calls for a robust mechanism to prevent such hate-driven crimes.
