Srinagar, Feb 11 The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Tuesday said that a Kashmiri shawl seller was attacked in Kapurthala district in Punjab, by a group of miscreants. The victim has been identified as Fareed Ahmad Bajad, a Kashmiri shawl seller from Karlpora, Kupwara. He was brutally thrashed, punched, slapped, and dragged. In addition to the physical assault, his belongings—including shawls worth lakhs of rupees and cash—were looted in this horrifying incident.
Following the attack, the National Spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, Farhat Riyaz, said that the association’s National Convenor, Nasir Khuehami, had taken up the matter with the Punjab Government, urging strict action against the perpetrators. Khuehami spoke with Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and SSP Kapurthala Gaurav Toora, pressing for immediate intervention in the case.
In response, the Chief Secretary assured Khuehami that necessary instructions had been issued to ensure swift action. He emphasized that the culprits would face appropriate legal consequences. “The safety and security of Kashmiri students and shawl sellers remain a top priority,” Khuehami quoted the Chief Secretary as saying.
Khuehami highlighted that Kashmiri shawl sellers, who have long contributed to the local economy and become an integral part of the social fabric, are now living in fear and insecurity. This marks the seventh such incident in the past 45 days, forming a disturbing pattern of violence and intimidation across Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab.
“The alarming trend of targeting Kashmiri traders continues unabated, fostering an atmosphere of hatred and intimidation that threatens their businesses and livelihoods,” Khuehami said. “This atmosphere of hostility has the potential to destroy their means of sustenance. He stressed the urgent need to address the growing hostility faced by Kashmiri traders outside the region. This recurring violence must be stopped to restore trust and safeguard the livelihoods of these traders,” he added.
Responding to the concerns raised by Khuehami, SSP Kapurthala Gaurav Toora informed him that action is being taken against the miscreants involved. We have registered an FIR against the accused, and efforts are underway to bring them to justice, SSP Informed.
Through a phone call with Khuehami, SSP Kapurthala confirmed that an FIR (No. 0042 dated 11-02-2025) had been formally registered at City Police Station, Kapurthala, under various sections, including 304 of the BNS. He reassured Khuehami that “Kashmiris are our own people. Punjab is their second home, and they should always feel safe here. The culprits will be apprehended soon, as multiple teams are actively working on the case.”
Khuehami expressed gratitude for the swift response of Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and SSP Kapurthala Gaurav Toora in ensuring that a strong message is sent against such intolerable acts. The Association reiterated that Kashmiri shawl sellers have long been contributors to the local economy and an essential part of Punjab’s social fabric. [KNT]
