NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Saturday appealed to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, urging his immediate intervention against what it described as a "disturbing pattern" of identity-based violence targeting Kashmiri students and traders in several north Indian states.
The appeal follows a recent incident involving the assault of an 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl seller in Dehradun's Vikas Nagar area.
In a formal communication issued to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami detailed the Dehradun case, stating that the youth and his family were singled out after being questioned about their origin. He reported that the victim sustained fractures and head injuries necessitating medical stitches.
Khuehami emphasized that this event is part of a broader, alarming trend, citing similar reports of harassment and violence against Kashmiri citizens in states such as Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh over the past year. He characterized these acts as clear manifestations of "identity-based violence."
The statement further reads that such recurring episodes have instilled a pervasive sense of fear and insecurity, compelling several students and businessmen to depart from these states, thereby disrupting their academic pursuits and economic livelihoods.
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"Nothing damages the idea of India in Kashmir more than repeated instances where innocent Kashmiris are targeted... while perpetrators believe they can act with impunity," Khuehami stated in the statement.
He cautioned that these incidents pose a significant risk of deepening alienation and eroding the foundations of national integration.
The Association has specifically requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to seek a comprehensive report from the Uttarakhand government regarding the Dehradun incident and analogous cases, including the current status of legal proceedings. It has also urged for directives to ensure strict, time-bound legal action and the creation of protective security mechanisms for Kashmiri citizens residing across various states.
The JKSA expressed that prompt intervention from the central government is crucial to restoring confidence and reaffirming the constitutional commitment to the safety and rights of every citizen. (KNS)