Jammu, January 29: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday spoke to his Uttarakhand counterpart, Pushkar Singh Dhami, and raised serious concern over the alleged assault on a Kashmiri shawl seller in Dehradun district, seeking strict action against those responsible and adequate protection for residents of Jammu and Kashmir living and working in the state.
The incident involved an 18-year-old Kashmiri youth who reportedly sustained serious injuries after he was allegedly attacked by a group of people while selling shawls in Dehradun on Wednesday.
According to an official statement issued by the Office of the Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah discussed the matter directly with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister and urged him to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“Chief Minister spoke with the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand regarding the assault on a young Kashmiri shawl seller and urged him to take strict action against the perpetrators. Dhami assured that strict action, including registration of an FIR, would be taken in the matter and safety of J&K residents will be ensured,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a post on X.
Reacting to the incident, Omar Abdullah described the recent spate of attacks on Kashmiri traders in different states as unacceptable and deeply troubling.
Quote-tweeting the post, he wrote, “This recent series of attacks, including in Himachal Pradesh and now this one, are unacceptable and must stop. It cannot be claimed that Jammu and Kashmir is an inalienable part of India while people from Kashmir, in other parts of the country, live in fear for their lives. My Government will step in wherever necessary and will do whatever is needed to ensure these incidents are not repeated. I hope the Home Ministry, Government of India, will also sensitise other states on the same lines.”
The incident has also drawn strong reactions from political leaders and civil society organisations. CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami expressed anguish over the attack and termed it part of a disturbing pattern.
“Another young Kashmiri shawl seller has been brutally attacked in Uttarakhand. These traders travel across India to earn an honest livelihood, yet repeated assaults reveal a disturbing pattern that demands urgent action and accountability,” Tarigami said in a post on X.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) also condemned the incident and called for immediate legal action. National Convenor of JKSA, Nasir Khuehami, alleged that the victim was first questioned about his identity and that the attackers turned violent after learning that the family belonged to the Muslim community and hailed from Kashmir.
He further claimed that other family members were allegedly dragged, slapped and assaulted during the incident.
Terming the episode deeply disturbing, the association demanded registration of a strict FIR against all those involved and called for adequate protection and security for Kashmiri traders, labourers and students in Uttarakhand.
The association also urged Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to issue firm directions to district police authorities and ensure confidence-building measures so that vulnerable communities feel reassured and the rule of law prevails over mob prejudice.