Kashmir Pen News Desk
New Delhi, December 26: The Union Government has taken serious cognisance of the recent assault on a Kashmiri shawl seller in Kashipur town of Uttarakhand and has assured stringent action against those involved in violence and intimidation targeting Kashmiri traders, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said in a statement on Thursday.
According to the Association, the matter was promptly taken up with the authorities, following which assurances were received from the highest levels of the Government of India that such incidents would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued clear directions to all concerned authorities to ensure the safety and security of Kashmiri shawl sellers and traders operating in different parts of the country. Any individual or group attempting to create fear, insecurity, or hostility against Kashmiri people and students will face strict and exemplary action under the law,” the Association stated.
The JKSA further informed that the police have registered an FIR and arrested the prime accused, identified as a Bajrang Dal leader, who allegedly assaulted a Kashmiri trader in Kashipur. All other persons involved in the incident have also been taken into custody.
An FIR bearing No. 517/25 has been registered under Sections 191(2), 115(2), 351(3), 352, 304, 62, 292, and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police teams were constituted immediately after the incident, raids were conducted at multiple locations, and arrests were made. Legal proceedings have also been initiated against the accused under relevant provisions of the Police Act, the statement added.
Kashmiri traders, particularly those dealing in traditional handicrafts such as shawls, carpets, and dry fruits, form a vital economic lifeline for thousands of families in the Kashmir Valley. Seasonal migration to various parts of the country for trade has been a long-standing practice, enabling artisans and small traders to sustain livelihoods amid economic uncertainties back home.
Incidents of targeted harassment or violence against Kashmiri traders not only disrupt their economic activity but also deepen feelings of insecurity among Kashmiri students and business communities living outside the Valley. Civil society groups in Kashmir have repeatedly stressed that the safety of Kashmiri traders across India is closely linked to trust, national integration, and the preservation of Kashmir’s centuries-old artisanal heritage.
The assurances from the Centre, therefore, assume particular significance for the Valley, where families depend heavily on the safe movement and dignity of their traders operating beyond Jammu and Kashmir.
