In yet another attack on Kashmiri traders, a shawl seller from Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, was assaulted and robbed in Punjab’s Kapurthala district.
Fareed Ahmad Bajad, a resident of Karlpora, Kupwara, was attacked by unidentified assailants, leaving him with multiple injuries. His cash and shawls were also looted.
This marks the third such attack on Kashmiri shawl sellers in Punjab in the last month and a half.
Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the J&K Students Association, condemned the incident, stating that these repeated attacks have instilled fear among Kashmiri traders. “The alarming trend of targeting Kashmiri traders continues unabated, creating an atmosphere of hatred and intimidation that threatens their businesses and livelihoods,” he wrote on social media.
However, Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora dismissed suggestions of communal intent, attributing the attack to petty criminals and drug addicts. “This is not a hate crime. The past two incidents also involved criminals looking to rob. We have already arrested four people in previous cases and recovered the stolen belongings,” he told The Indian Express.
An FIR has been registered at City Police Station, Kapurthala. The SSP urged shawl sellers to move in groups for safety, as they often carry expensive merchandise, making them easy targets for criminals.
The police have assured action, promising the arrest of the culprits soon.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com.
