Bilal Ahmed Ganie, a Kashmiri shawl vendor from Kupwara, Kashmir, was allegedly assaulted and threatened in the Kashipur area of Udham Singh Nagar district. The attack is reportedly carried out by some activists of the Bajrang Dal.
According to reports, Ganie comes to Uttarakhand seasonally to sell shawls and has been running this business for the past 8–10 years. On Monday, a group, allegedly led by Ankur Singh, stopped him and demanded that he chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” When Ganie refused, he was physically assaulted, his shawl stock was looted, and he was asked to leave the state immediately.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) condemned the incident and wrote to Uttarakhand Director General of Police Deepam Seth, demanding that an FIR be registered, the culprits identified and arrested, and adequate protection provided to the victim and other Kashmiri traders.
The police have initiated an investigation, though an FIR has not been registered at the initial stage. Authorities stated that appropriate legal action will be taken once the investigation is complete.
Political and social leaders have also condemned the incident. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Iltija Mufti described it as a sign of rising intolerance and a climate of fear in society.
In recent months, several Kashmiri traders in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have faced similar threats and assaults. This incident has once again raised concerns over whether citizens are being targeted based on their religious or social identity.
