Physical assault of Kashmiri shawl vendors in Uttarakhand disturbing: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Chief cleric of Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. File
| Photo Credit: IMRAN NISSAR

Hurriyat chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday expressed concern over continuous physical assaults on Kashmiri traders outside J&K. 

“The physical and verbal assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, who had to flee when police refused to guarantee their safety, is very disturbing. After large-scale detentions, demolition of homes, and crackdowns inside Kashmir, ordinary citizens, students, and small traders outside of J&K are being attacked and forced to return,” the Mirwaiz said.

Around a dozen shawl vendors alleged they were assaulted and forced to flee Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

Being themselves at the receiving end of all forms of violence and subsequent suffering for decades, Kashmiris’ condemnation, empathy, and grief for the victims of the Pahalgam bloodbath is straight from the heart, yet they are being vilified and targeted,” the Mirwaiz said.

He appealed the people of India not to fall prey to hatred and media propaganda creating mistrust of Kashmiris, and “reciprocate in ensuring their safety, as they have always done in times of crisis towards all visitors and tourists”.

“The collective punishment being meted out to them both inside and outside Jammu and Kashmir is unjust and inhuman,” he added.