Kashmiri students across northern Indian states are facing a wave of violence, threats, and communal slurs following the recent militant attack in Pahalgam, with Hindu right-wing groups targeting students in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, said the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association.
The group has documented at least eight incidents so far, calling it a “deliberate and targeted campaign of hate.”
At Arni University in Himachal Pradesh, Kashmiri students were harassed, abused, and labelled ‘terrorists’ by Hindu right-wing mobs amidst a Hindutva campaign against Kashmiris following the Pahalgam militant attack.
Hostel doors broken, students forced to flee and this targeted hate must end, said Jammu and Kashmir Students Association in a statement.
“The situation is turning grim and deeply concerning. We have received frantic distress calls from Kashmiri students from Arni University, Kathghar (Indora), in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh who are being harassed, abused, and physically attacked by right-wing and fringe elements. Hostel doors are being forcefully broken down, and students are being intimidated, labelled as ‘Atankwadi’ (terrorists), and coerced to vacate their accommodation under threats and violence,” said Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association.
In Uttarakhand, a Hindutva group, Hindu Raksha Dal has issued an open threat to Muslim Kashmiri students studying in the state just now, vowing to ‘pick them up one by one’.
They’ve set a chilling ultimatum, demanding that all Kashmiri Muslim students vacate the state by 10 AM Thursday.
Jammu ans Kashmir Students Association urged Uttarakhand CM to take immediate and decisive action to ensure the safety and security of every Kashmiri student in the state.
In Dehradun, Hindu Raksha Dal and other right wing groups has issued written threats to several colleges in the state capital demanding the expulsion of Kashmiri Muslim students and setting a chilling ultimatum of 10 AM Thursday.
“Just now, Around 20 terrified Kashmiri students from BFIT College Suduwala Dehradun have already fled towards Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun to save their lives from right-wing violence,” Khuehami said.
The Hindu nationalists even took the streets to target Kashmiri students. Members of the outfit chanted inflammatory and Islamophobic slogans such as “Kashmiri mullo, go back.”
In Punjab, Khuehami said he received distress calls from Universal Group of Institutions, Derabassi, Chandigarh, where Kashmiri students were brutally attacked inside the hostel premises during the night.
“Students said that, local individuals and other students forcefully entered the hostel at midnight, targeting Kashmiri students with sharp weapons. Their clothes were torn, and at least one student sustained serious injuries,” he added.
“Shockingly, the college security remained passive during the entire episode, failing to intervene or protect the students. Even more concerning is the fact that Punjab Police did not provide timely protection or assistance, further emboldening the attackers and leaving students vulnerable and traumatized,” he said.
“This is not just a security issue; it is a deliberate and targeted campaign of hate and vilification against students from a particular region and identity. The silence of local authorities is enabling this reign of fear. It reflects a dangerous collapse of law and order, emboldening mobs and right-wing elements to act with impunity,” demanded Khuehami.
Khuehami also said that he has spoken to the office of the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, regarding the growing incidents of harassment, intimidation, and threat calls targeting Kashmiri students across the country.
“LoP has expressed deep concern over these disturbing developments and assured that he will take up the matter at the highest level,” he said.
