Kashmiri shawl sellers facing harassment in Himachal: PDP chief

Alleging that Kashmiri shawl sellers were being harassed, threatened and assaulted by right wing groups in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti today urged Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and provide a safe environment for them.

The PDP chief took to X to highlight the matter and express her concern on what she called a “worrying trend of targeted violence”. “Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district are facing harassment, assault and threats from right-wing groups. Despite proper documents, they’re being barred from doing business and evicted,” she posted on X. She further claimed that at least three such incidents had already taken place, pointing towards a worrying pattern of targeted violence. She further wrote that “this othering of Kashmiris will alienate them further” and urged the Chief Ministers concerned to intervene.

Meanwhile, Abid Hussain Sadiq, Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur, said the matter had been brought to his notice and Bilaspur SP and Ghumarwin SDM had been asked to look into the incident.

“We will take the required action,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner admitted that a couple of such incidents had happened in the past as well, but the required action was taken every time.

The incidents of harassment of hawkers and traders from outside the state have seen an increase after the Sanjauli mosque row a few months back in Shimla. Last month, a woman was caught on camera in Kangra district bullying Kashmiri shawl sellers and asking them to chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’.

Later, she accepted her mistake and apologised to the Kashmiri traders after the intervention of the Chief Minister’s office.