On social media on Tuesday, a video spread a video where two Kashmir shawl vendors were seen slapped by a group of locals and forced to close their stores. In the video, they are seen being abused and slapped by a three-person team led by a bearded man and asked to end and pack. One of them made an Aadhar card that established his identity as a resident of Jamu and Kashmir, and they were beaten several times.
DGP Deepam Seth said three people who slapped the shawl supplier have been arrested. Nasir Khuehami, national convener of Jamu and Kashmir Student Association, said: “We have received profound disturbing and chilling reports from Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, where two Kashmir shawl sellers were brutally beaten by members of Bajrang Dal.
“In addition, there are about 16 Kashmir traders, mainly from the Kupwara area, who are threatened, harassed and forcibly deported rental accommodation,” he said. Many of them have been doing business and selling shawls for years, contributing to the local economy and living peacefully within the community.
Kauhan said the three apologized for their actions and promised that they would not repeat the actions in the future, adding that legal proceedings are being filed against them under the Police Methods. The defendant was identified as Suraj Singh, a resident of Post Kempty of Tehri Garhwal; Pradeep Singh, a resident of Mussoorie Hathipaon; and Abhishek Uniyal, a resident of Mussoorie Company Garden.
Khuehami said about 16 Kashmir shawl vendors from Mussoorie are now back in the Kashmir Valley.
