Srinagar, January 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking urgent intervention over what it describes as systematic harassment and violence against Kashmiri shawl sellers and students in several states, including Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Maharashtra.
In a letter to NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian, the association said more than a dozen incidents have been reported in the past ten days alone, indicating a persistent pattern rather than isolated cases.
According to JKSA, shawl sellers, many of whom have worked peacefully for 20 to 30 years, have faced physical assaults, threats, forced sloganeering such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and even death threats.
National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the organisation has documented cases from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Mumbai and Delhi. He added that Kashmiri students have also faced harassment, including denial of accommodation in New Delhi and verbal abuse in Mumbai.
Speaking to the media Khuehami said, “Their belongings have been vandalised and looted, and in several cases, their mobile phones were damaged when they attempted to record these attacks. Some traders have been forced to leave their homes, resulting in the disruption of livelihoods built over generations and causing severe psychological distress.”
He further stated, “Attacks on Kashmiri business people and students only deepen alienation and mistrust, which is exactly what hostile forces seek to exploit. Kashmiris are not outsiders; they are equal citizens of India, entitled to the same rights, freedoms, and protections under the Constitution.”
Khuehami noted that while authorities in some states acted in time to ensure safety and redressal, the situation in Himachal Pradesh remains particularly troubling.
He said, “Despite repeated attacks, there has been little concrete action, no prompt or effective registration of FIRs in several cases, no visible arrests or deterrent measures, and no sustained effort to ensure the safety and confidence of affected communities.”
The association warned that continued inaction has emboldened miscreants, creating fear among vulnerable traders and students.
JKSA has urged the NHRC to seek detailed reports from the Chief Ministers and Directors General of Police of the concerned states on incidents, FIRs, arrests, prosecutions and preventive steps. It has also called for strict accountability where lapses occurred, stronger security mechanisms, and immediate protection for Kashmiri traders and students.
The association said safeguarding the safety, dignity and constitutional rights of Kashmiri shawl sellers, students and their families is essential to restoring confidence, preventing further alienation and upholding India’s human rights obligations.
