Are Kashmiri Vendors and Students Facing Profiling and Threats Nationwide After the Red Fort Blast?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kashmiri vendors are facing harassment and profiling across the nation.
- The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has issued an urgent advisory.
- Many students are facing intimidation and sudden evictions.
- Local authorities are imposing strict checks on Kashmiris.
- Community support is crucial for those affected.
New Delhi, Nov 20 (NationPress) As the inquiry into the Delhi Red Fort blast progresses, numerous significant details are emerging publicly, highlighting the troubling experiences of Kashmiri vendors and students across the nation who are enduring ongoing harassment and intense profiling.
A recent video from Himachal Pradesh captures a confrontation between two Kashmiri shawl vendors and a local individual, who employs aggressive language and questions their presence in the state.
The local, who recorded the video, openly threatens the Kashmiri sellers, warning them that if they dare to enter his panchayat, he would seize their merchandise.
Accusing the Kashmiris, he ominously states that "a significant incident may occur... these individuals should not be allowed entry without police clearance."
This alarming situation is not an isolated case; many Kashmiris are facing persistent harassment and profiling, with local residents reportedly checking their belongings due to suspicions of carrying weapons or explosives.
Many vendors claim they are restricted from moving freely without prior verification from local authorities, fostering a climate of fear and limitations.
Significantly, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) issued an urgent advisory for Kashmiri students nationwide after receiving numerous reports of profiling, harassment, and sudden evictions from their accommodations.
The Association, while expressing profound sorrow over the attack's casualties, reiterated that Kashmiris have consistently opposed terrorism and offered support to the victims' families.
Nevertheless, the JKSA warned that many Kashmiri students are undergoing aggressive verification, intimidating inquiries, and disruptions in their hostels in the aftermath of the incident.
In some instances, students were reportedly ordered to vacate their rooms unexpectedly, leading to widespread distress among those studying away from home.
National Convenor Nasir Khuehami urged students to remain vigilant during this sensitive period.