Kashmiri shawl seller brutally beaten, dragged, looted in Punjab’s Kapurthala
A Kashmiri shawl seller was attacked and robbed by unidentified individuals in Kapurthala district of Punjab.
The victim, identified as Fareed Ahmad Bajad, 32, a resident of Kralpora, Kupwara, was severely beaten, punched, slapped, and dragged, leaving him with multiple bruises. His belongings, including shawls and cash, were looted.
An FIR has been lodged against the accused, and efforts are underway to arrest them. FIR No. 0042, dated 11-02-2025, has been formally registered at City Police Station, Kapurthala, under various sections, including 304 of the BNS.
According to the FIR, warm clothes worth around 25,000–26,000 rupees, approximately 8,000 rupees in cash from his pocket, and his Realme C35 mobile phone were taken away by the perpetrators.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association National Convenor, Nasir Khuehami, condemned the incident, stating, “A chilling pattern of violence and intimidation that is pushing these hardworking individuals into a state of fear and insecurity. Kashmiri shawl sellers, who have significantly contributed to the local economy and become part of the social fabric, now live in constant fear. The alarming trend of targeting Kashmiri traders continues unabated, creating an atmosphere of hatred and intimidation that threatens their businesses and livelihoods.”
“Is this the ‘Atoot Ang’ (a claim that Kashmir is an integral part of India) you speak of? Harassing Kashmiri traders daily while preaching national unity is sheer hypocrisy! True integration is built on respect, dignity, and safety—not fear, violence, and intimidation,” he asked.
He urged the Punjab government to take strict action against the perpetrators, speaking with Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and SSP Kapurthala Gaurav Toora to press for immediate intervention in the case.
“The Chief Secretary informed me that necessary instructions have been issued to ensure swift action. SSP Kapurthala Gaurav Toora stated that action is being taken against the miscreants involved,” Khuehami said.
“This climate of hate, threats, and violence against Kashmiris in mainland India must end now. The government must intervene, ensure justice, and hold the culprits accountable for this heinous act. This recurring violence must stop to restore trust and safeguard the livelihoods of these traders,” he added.
Following the intervention of Kupwara MLA Fayaz Ahmad Mir, a team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) and the local Station House Officer (SHO), accompanied by Fareed Ahmad Bajad, will visit the site of the incident to assess the situation.
This is the third such incident in just 45 days, raising concerns. Earlier, on January 19, Punjab Police arrested a culprit who had attacked a Kashmiri shawl seller in Kapurthala district. In another instance, miscreants attacked a Kashmiri cloth vendor during the Geeta Jayanti Fair in Kurukshetra, Haryana.
