Solan: Despite assurances from the police, administration and guidelines from politicians, in yet another assault on Kashmiris working outside, a group of Kashmiri shawl sellers were allegedly harassed, threatened and targeted for an attempted attack and looting by a group of miscreants in the Kasauli area of Solan district.
According to the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), the attack was the 16th reported case in Himachal Pradesh this year involving the targeting of Kashmiri shawl sellers.
According to initial information shared by JKSA, the assailants verbally abused the sellers, asked them to leave Himachal Pradesh and allegedly told them to “go to Pakistan.” The group also attempted to assault and rob the traders before the situation was defused.
Those affected were seasonal Kashmiri shawl sellers who travel to different parts of the country for business, sources said.
This is the 17th such incident reported in Himachal Pradesh this year, according to community representatives, who alleged that no concrete action has been initiated by the state government so far. They said repeated attacks and intimidation were creating fear among Kashmiri traders and damaging social harmony.
Last week, another Kashmiri shawl seller was brutally assaulted in the Dehra area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh.
The victim, Jehangir Ahmad, sustained fractures and multiple injuries and was hospitalised. The incident came to light after a video of the assault circulated on social media.
JKSA said Ahmad was threatened, abused and told to leave the state. He was allegedly prevented from selling shawls, his belongings were vandalised and his mobile phone was damaged when he attempted to record the incident. The assailants reportedly warned that Kashmiris would not be allowed to work in the area.
The association said Ahmad had been selling shawls in the region for about 15 years and had lived peacefully among the local community. JKSA later took up the matter with the offices of the Himachal Pradesh chief minister and the Leader of Opposition, following which assurances were given that an FIR would be registered and police action initiated.
