Mojo Story@themojostory
An 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl seller, identified as Tabish Ahmed, was allegedly assaulted in Uttarakhand’s Vikas Nagar area near Dehradun on Wednesday, according to the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association. His cousin was also attacked in the incident and sustained minor injuries.
The student body said Ahmed was stopped by a group of men and questioned about his identity. The assault reportedly began after he told them that he was a Muslim from Kashmir. Ahmed suffered a fractured left arm and serious head injuries and was initially taken to a local hospital before being referred to Doon Hospital in Dehradun for further treatment.
Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, said police have registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to grievous hurt and intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace. He added that the Director General of Police, Deepam Seth, assured him of strict action in the matter, while stressing that accountability must be time-bound and transparent.
Reacting to the incident, Congress leader Pawan Khera said that while Kashmiri craftsmanship is widely admired, Kashmiri people are often denied safety and dignity. He questioned what message such attacks send about the value placed on Kashmiri lives.
The incident follows a similar case reported in December, when another Kashmiri shawl seller, Bilal Ahmed Ganie, was allegedly assaulted in Udham Singh Nagar while selling shawls door to door. He claimed he was attacked after being asked to raise nationalist slogans.