New Delhi : In the aftermath of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmiri students across the country have once again become targets of Hindutva extremist organizations. The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) expressed grave concern and demanded urgent security measures for these students, citing a rise in hate-filled social media posts inciting violence, reported the Dawat News.
In the past 24 hours alone, over a dozen incidents have been reported where Kashmiri students were assaulted or harassed in states including Punjab, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Prayagraj (UP), and Dehradun.
JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami reported that local students at the Universal Group of Institutes in Derabassi, Chandigarh, broke into the hostel late at night and attacked Kashmiri students with sharp weapons. Over 100 Kashmiri students are enrolled at this institution. A viral video showed a female student pleading for help from Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, who has assured action and student safety. The DGP of Punjab has also launched an investigation and warned against any communal disturbances.
JKSA further reported similar incidents at Arni University in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, where Kashmiri students were called “terrorists” and faced eviction threats. In another alarming development, Hindutva outfit Hindu Raksha Dal openly threatened to identify and attack Kashmiri Muslim students in Uttarakhand, demanding they leave the state by 10 AM.
Videos shared by JKSA show Hindu Raksha Dal leader Lalit Sharma issuing ultimatums and threatening to “deal with” Kashmiri Muslims in his own way. In Prayagraj, landlords have begun evicting Kashmiri tenants, citing safety concerns.
Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also voiced concern and urged authorities to intervene immediately. He stressed that the fear and trauma faced by Kashmiri students post-Pahalgam attack is deeply disturbing and unacceptable.
Jammu & Kashmir’s former CM Omar Abdullah confirmed that the state government is in touch with concerned state governments and has requested additional measures to protect students.
