Srinagar: In a fresh incident of violence, a Kashmiri trader was brutally assaulted, robbed, and threatened by a group of extremists in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, raising serious concerns over the safety of Kashmiri vendors who seasonally travel outside the Valley for livelihood.
The victim has been identified as Jahangir Ahmed, a resident of Kashmir, who for the past nearly 15 years has been travelling to Himachal Pradesh every winter to sell traditional Kashmiri suits. According to the victim, the attack occurred when a group of men intercepted him, physically assaulted him, forcibly took away his merchandise and cash, and issued threats warning him not to return to the state again.
Jahangir alleged that the attackers used communal slurs and openly intimidated him, leaving him injured and traumatised. He claimed that his entire seasonal stock, which he had purchased on credit, was looted during the incident, pushing his family into severe financial distress.
The videos circulated on social media show that Kashmiri vendors have increasingly been facing hostility and intimidation in several regions, particularly during winter months when they migrate to sell shawls, suits, and handicrafts. Many traders rely solely on this seasonal business to sustain their households back home.
Many people back in Kashmir have appealed to Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for help, reminding him that Himachal Pradesh is a Congress-ruled state that claims to believe in true secularism. [KNT]
