Ever since the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, attacks on Muslims—especially Kashmiri Muslims—have continued to take place in different parts of the country. From violent to verbal assaults, they have been facing continuous attacks not just from Hindutva militant groups but from civilians as well.
In a disturbing video circulating on social media, two Kashmiri shawl sellers were seen being brutally assaulted by members of the Bajrang Dal in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.
Two to three men are seen verbally abusing and beating two young men, who are visibly scared. The situation has worsened, with police, instead of helping the traders, asking them to leave the vicinity.
A video circulating on social media, posted by the X handle @TheVoK_official, captured the chilling scene of goons openly beating and abusing the Kashmiri shawl sellers, demanding to see their identification.
However, after the issue was raised by various civil society groups, the Uttarakhand Police arrested three people in the matter.
DGP Uttarakhand, Deepam Seth, said that the Uttarakhand Police had taken cognizance of the incident involving the assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors by three youths on Mall Road. All three accused have been arrested, and legal proceedings have been initiated against them.
“They apologized for their actions and assured that they would not repeat such behavior in the future. Legal proceedings are being initiated against them under the Police Act,” the DGP said.
The men were identified as Suraj Singh, resident of Post Kempty, Tehri Garhwal; Pradeep Singh, resident of Hathipaon, Mussoorie, Dehradun; and Abhishek Uniyal, resident of Company Garden, Mussoorie, Dehradun.
Kashmiri traders, many of whom have been integral to Mussoorie’s local economy for years, were reportedly abandoned by state authorities, with the Mussoorie Police allegedly instructing them to vacate the area and leave the state immediately.
Meanwhile, around 16 other Kashmiri traders, primarily from the Kupwara district, faced threats, harassment, and forced evictions from their rented accommodations.
They have now returned to the Kashmir Valley.
In a statement, the J&K Students Association said they had reached out to Uttarakhand officials about the matter, who have assured them of an investigation.
The traders, who have long contributed to the region’s market by selling handwoven shawls and other goods, expressed shock and despair at the hostility. “We have been doing business here for years, living peacefully with the community,” one trader said.
“Now, we’re being treated like outsiders and forced to flee.”
The traders reported significant financial losses, with one stating, “All our goods, worth at least 30 lakh, are still lying there. We had no choice but to flee back to Kashmir, leaving everything behind.”
The evictions and assaults have left the Kashmiri trading community in Mussoorie reeling, with many returning to their home state empty-handed, their livelihoods upended.
The incident follows a pattern of attacks targeting Kashmiri vendors in the region. While similar incidents have taken place before, with the Kashmiri community being vulnerable due to Hindutva groups’ constant harassment, the situation has worsened since the Pahalgam attack.
Many Kashmiri students have also been forced to leave the state and rush back home as they became targets of angry crowds incited by social media and mainstream media coverage following the Pahalgam attack.
