Amid a disturbing surge in violence against Kashmiri shawl peddlers, activist Nasir Kheuhami has implored the government to shield these vulnerable workers traversing India’s heartland.
The catalyst: a harrowing beating of a teenage vendor from Kupwara, reported via Muslim Seva Sangathan. Kheuhami’s conversation with the survivor revealed a chilling sequence. Selling shawls in Vikas Nagar to aid his family during Kashmir’s winter academic session, the boy faced intrusive queries about his roots and religion. References to Pahalgam and Delhi blasts ignited fury, culminating in a rod-wielding crowd’s assault that left him bloodied and stitched up extensively.
Far from unique, such episodes echo in Dehradun, Nainital, Almora, and beyond in Garhwal-Kumaon belts. These migrants, upholding a multi-decade legacy, inject vitality into local markets but are now met with suspicion and fists.
Kheuhami decries the scapegoating: One misdeed shouldn’t indict thousands. The young man’s words resonate—Kashmiris back the state fully; prosecute the guilty individually. Their winter sojourns fund education and sustenance back home.
Urging stringent enforcement, Kheuhami reminds that J&K’s sons and daughters enjoy the same mobility rights as any Indian. From Bihar’s fields to UP’s cities, free movement defines the republic. Protecting these traders preserves not just lives, but the fabric of brotherhood.
Unchecked, this menace erodes mutual faith, Kheuhami cautions. Authorities must act now—deploy safeguards, nab culprits, foster security. Kashmiri vendors embody resilience, peddling heritage while nurturing families; they merit a fear-free India.