The Crossbill News Desk
In yet another attack on Kashmiri traders, a shawl seller from Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir, was brutally assaulted and robbed by unidentified miscreants in Punjab’s Kapurthala district.
This marks the third such incident in the region within the past month and a half, reported The Indian Express.
The victim, Fareed Ahmad Bajad from Karlpora, Kupwara, was severely beaten, sustaining multiple injuries, before his belongings—including shawls and cash—were looted. Fellow Kashmiri traders condemned the attack, highlighting the growing insecurity among their community.
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the J&K Students Association, raised concerns on social media, stating that Kashmiri shawl sellers, who have long contributed to the local economy, now live in fear due to repeated assaults.
“Kashmiri shawl sellers, who have significantly contributed to the local economy and become part of the social fabric, now live in constant fear. The alarming trend of targeting Kashmiri traders continues unabated, creating an atmosphere of hatred and intimidation that threatens their businesses and livelihoods,” he wrote.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora dismissed concerns of communal targeting, stating that past incidents were the work of drug addicts and petty criminals, and this case appeared to follow the same pattern.
“We have arrested four people in the past attacks and recovered all the belongings which were stolen from the victims. This is not a hate crime. There is no other angle to these incidents apart from the intent to rob,” he claimed.
An FIR has been registered at City Police Station, Kapurthala, despite jurisdictional complications with a neighbouring district.
“The DGP has given strict instructions on immediate registration of FIRs and we will resolve the jurisdiction matter later,” Toora added.
The SSP also noted that Kashmiri shawl sellers, often traveling alone to villages, become easy targets for criminals.
This marks the third such incident in the region within the past month and a half, reported The Indian Express.
The victim, Fareed Ahmad Bajad from Karlpora, Kupwara, was severely beaten, sustaining multiple injuries, before his belongings—including shawls and cash—were looted. Fellow Kashmiri traders condemned the attack, highlighting the growing insecurity among their community.
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the J&K Students Association, raised concerns on social media, stating that Kashmiri shawl sellers, who have long contributed to the local economy, now live in fear due to repeated assaults.
“Kashmiri shawl sellers, who have significantly contributed to the local economy and become part of the social fabric, now live in constant fear. The alarming trend of targeting Kashmiri traders continues unabated, creating an atmosphere of hatred and intimidation that threatens their businesses and livelihoods,” he wrote.
Fareed Ahmad Bajad, a Kashmiri shawl seller from Karlpora, Kupwara, was mercilessly attacked by miscreants in Kapurthala, Punjab. He was brutally thrashed, punched, slapped, and dragged, leaving him with multiple bruises all over his body. Not only was he physically assaulted,… pic.twitter.com/teTCKazSgm
— Nasir Khuehami (ناصر کہویہامی) (@NasirKhuehami) February 11, 2025
Speaking to The Indian Express, Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora dismissed concerns of communal targeting, stating that past incidents were the work of drug addicts and petty criminals, and this case appeared to follow the same pattern.
“We have arrested four people in the past attacks and recovered all the belongings which were stolen from the victims. This is not a hate crime. There is no other angle to these incidents apart from the intent to rob,” he claimed.
An FIR has been registered at City Police Station, Kapurthala, despite jurisdictional complications with a neighbouring district.
“The DGP has given strict instructions on immediate registration of FIRs and we will resolve the jurisdiction matter later,” Toora added.
The SSP also noted that Kashmiri shawl sellers, often traveling alone to villages, become easy targets for criminals.
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