Dehradun, Jan 29 —An 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl seller was seriously injured after being allegedly attacked by a group of men in Uttarakhand’s Vikas Nagar area on Tuesday evening, with police arresting one of the accused and registering a case.
Family members said the boy was targeted after being asked about his identity and place of origin.
“When they learned we are Muslims from Kashmir, the situation turned violent,” a relative alleged.
According to the family, the attackers beat the teenager with iron rods and fists, leaving him with a fractured left arm and serious head injuries.
“Blood was oozing from his head. They also dragged and slapped other family members who tried to intervene,” they said.
The injured boy was first taken to a local hospital and later referred to Doon Hospital in Dehradun due to the severity of his condition.
The incident drew wider attention after social and student activist Jasib Shabir posted about it online, calling the assault “deeply disturbing” and urging strict action. He appealed to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure a case was registered and the culprits punished.
Police said action has been initiated against Sanjay Yadav and another individual. “A case has been registered at the concerned police station and Sanjay Yadav has been taken into custody,” an official said.