Kashipur: A Kashmiri shawl vendor was assaulted by a group of Hindutva men in Uttarakhand while being forced to chant ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’, raising concerns over communal targeting and public safety. The victim, Bilal Ganie from Kupwara district in north Kashmir, was attacked while transporting his stock during the winter selling season. A video of the assault briefly appeared on social media before being removed following a police complaint.
Ganie, who has traveled to Uttarakhand for seasonal work for eight years, said five men singled him out after learning his Kashmiri origin. He was physically attacked, verbally abused, and publicly humiliated. Passers-by reportedly did not intervene, with some allegedly encouraging the harassment.
The vendor filed a complaint with local authorities but expressed reluctance to pursue the case, citing fear of reprisals and the potential delay in returning home to Kashmir. Winter sales form his primary source of income, supplementing his limited work as a carpenter in Kupwara.
Authorities in Kashipur stated that a formal FIR has not yet been registered as an inquiry continues. The accused submitted a written apology, though rights groups have criticized the response as inadequate and insufficient to address the communal implications of the attack.
The incident highlights ongoing threats faced by migrants and minority workers and calls attention to the need for stronger legal protections and community accountability.
