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Kashmiri Shawl Vendors Attacked in Mussoorie, Mirwaiz Terms It ‘Collective Punishment’

Editor 9 hours ago

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SRINAGAR, April 30 : Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has expressed deep concern over the recent assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, stating that they had to flee the town after police allegedly refused to guarantee their safety.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mirwaiz described the incident as “very disturbing” and linked it to a broader pattern of targeting Kashmiris across India.

“The physical and verbal assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, who had to flee when police refused to guarantee their safety, is very disturbing,” Mirwaiz posted.

He added that such attacks are happening against the backdrop of increased crackdowns in the Kashmir Valley. “After large-scale detentions, demolition of homes, and crackdowns inside Kashmir, ordinary citizens, students, and small traders outside of J&K are being attacked and forced to return,” he said.

Referring to the recent tragic incident in Pahalgam, Mirwaiz said that despite decades of suffering, the Kashmiri people continue to show empathy. “Being themselves at the receiving end of all forms of violence and subsequent suffering for decades, Kashmiris’ condemnation, empathy, and grief for the victims of the Pahalgam bloodbath is straight from the heart, yet they are being vilified and targeted,” he said.

Mirwaiz appealed to the people of India to reject hate and divisive narratives. “I appeal to the people of India not to fall prey to hatred and media propaganda creating mistrust of Kashmiris, and reciprocate in ensuring their safety, as they have always done in times of crisis towards all visitors and tourists,” he stated.

He concluded his post by terming the situation as deeply unfair. “The collective punishment being meted out to them both inside and outside Jammu and Kashmir is unjust and inhuman,” he said.