SRINAGAR (Kashmir English): A fresh report published by Al Jazeera has revealed a disturbing rise in attacks, harassment, and intimidation targeting Kashmiri shawl sellers and migrant workers across various Indian states, forcing many to choose between their safety and livelihood.
Al Jazeera reported that thousands of itinerant traders from Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir travel across India during winter to sell shawls and handicrafts.
However, in recent weeks, a spate of hate-driven attacks has compelled many to restrict their movement or return home.
The report cited the case of 18-year-old Tabish Ahmad Ganie from Kupwara district, who was allegedly assaulted with an iron rod by a shopkeeper in Uttarakhand’s Vikas Nagar area.
A viral video showed the attacker making communal remarks while thrashing the youth, who suffered head injuries and fractures.
Kashmiri Muslim
Ganie told Al Jazeera that he was targeted “simply because of my identity as a Kashmiri Muslim.”
Another shawl vendor, Bilal Ahmad, was reportedly attacked in Uttarakhand’s Kashipur district after he refused to chant a nationalist slogan.
Following the incident, he shut down his business and returned to Kashmir amid safety concerns.
The report further noted that similar incidents have been documented in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and other northern states of India.
In Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, a retired army personnel allegedly livestreamed the harassment of Kashmiri hawkers on social media, making derogatory remarks. Though police reportedly registered a case, no significant action followed.
Al Jazeera stated that since 2019, when the Modi government revoked the region’s partial autonomy and brought it under direct federal control, economic challenges in the territory have worsened, pushing many youths to seek seasonal employment outside Kashmir.
However, rising anti-Kashmiri sentiments and nearly 200 reported incidents of harassment in recent months have deepened fear among migrant traders and students.
Kashmir’s political leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, have called for ensuring the safety of Kashmiris across India.
The report concluded that repeated assaults and intimidation against Kashmiri traders not only jeopardize their livelihoods but also reinforce a climate of fear, leaving many with no easy choices.
