Srinagar, Feb 2 — Kashmiri shawl sellers continue to face harassment in parts of India, with a fresh incident reported from Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said on Sunday.
In the latest case, a shawl seller, Mohd Ramzan, was allegedly intimidated and verbally abused by a man identified as Surjeet Rajput Guleria. The association said the accused had been involved in at least three similar incidents targeting Kashmiri traders in the past month.
A video of the confrontation, recorded by the alleged assailant himself, shows Ramzan being questioned about the 1990s migration of Kashmiri Pandits and asked why Kashmiris “tell Indian forces to leave Kashmir,” while his shawl bundles were checked.
“Tell me the difference between Bhagwan and Allah,” the man is heard asking in the video.
“There is no difference. God is one,” Ramzan replies.
“I am an Indian. Don’t harass us. We have all documents and permissions. No one tells the forces to leave — they protect us,” Ramzan says.
“Keep brotherhood intact,” he adds, to which the alleged assailant responds, “We know how much brotherhood you Kashmiris maintained with Kashmiri Pandits.”
JKSA said the confrontation lasted over 20 minutes, during which Ramzan was repeatedly asked to prove his identity and was mockingly accused of carrying weapons instead of merchandise.
The association said such incidents have become frequent, describing the Kangra episode as the fourth case reported this year.
“Targeting of Kashmiri traders has become organised in nature,” JKSA said in a statement.
It alleged that in most earlier cases either no FIR was registered or complaints were diluted. “Only one FIR has been lodged so far despite multiple reports of harassment,” the association said.
JKSA criticised the Himachal Pradesh government and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for what it called inaction, saying the absence of swift arrests had emboldened those involved.
“These videos show the attackers have no fear of the law and continue to harass Kashmiris openly,” it said.
The association urged the Chief Minister to intervene, ensure identification and arrest of those responsible, and direct the police and district administration to protect Kashmiri traders and their livelihoods.
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