Attacks on Kashmiri Shawl Sellers, Destruction of Muslim Heritage, and Rising Lynchings Reveal a Deepening Crisis of Intolerance in India

A Dangerous Pattern Taking Shape Across India and Kashmir

Recent events across India and Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir clearly point toward a dangerous and growing pattern of intolerance, violence, and state failure. Attacks on Kashmiri shawl sellers and students outside Kashmir, the demolition of a protected Muslim historical tomb, and the open rise of mob lynchings are not isolated incidents. Together, they show how hatred has been normalised under a Hindutva-driven environment. From a Pakistani perspective, these developments expose the widening gap between India’s democratic claims and the harsh reality faced by minorities and Kashmiris.

♦ One Pattern, Many Victims: Different incidents across regions show the same mindset of targeting identity and difference
♦ State Failure Repeated: Authorities repeatedly fail to protect victims or prevent violence
♦ Democracy Under Pressure: Rights are shrinking while fear is expanding

Kashmiri Shawl Sellers and Students Targeted Outside Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association raised serious concern over repeated attacks on Kashmiri students and shawl sellers in different parts of India. These individuals travel outside Kashmir for education and livelihood, yet they are increasingly treated as outsiders and targets of hate. In a recent incident in Dehra, Himachal Pradesh, a Kashmiri shawl seller was brutally assaulted and left seriously injured. Such attacks reflect how unsafe India has become for Kashmiris beyond their homeland.

♦ Identity-Based Violence: Kashmiris are attacked not for crimes but for who they are
♦ Livelihood Under Threat: Honest work is punished by hate and violence
♦ Fear Beyond Kashmir: Insecurity follows Kashmiris wherever they go

Political Assurances Without Real Protection

JKSA Convenor Nasir Khuehami raised the issue with state authorities and also contacted the office of Rahul Gandhi, seeking protection and justice for the victims. While assurances of support were conveyed, repeated incidents show that promises alone do not change reality on the ground. Kashmiris continue to face harassment despite such commitments. This gap between words and action exposes the weakness of India’s political response.

♦ Words Without Action: Statements fail to prevent repeated attacks
♦ Justice Delayed: Victims wait while attackers often go free
♦ Trust Eroding: Communities lose faith in political assurances

Destruction of the Historic Shamshir Khan Tomb in Bihar

In Bihar’s Aurangabad district, Hindutva goons demolished the historic Shamshir Khan tomb, even though it was a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The graves of Shamshir Khan and his wife were also destroyed, turning a site of history and remembrance into rubble. This act shocked local Muslims and reopened deep fears about the safety of Muslim heritage in India. Such destruction goes beyond vandalism; it is a deliberate attack on memory and identity.

♦ Heritage Targeted: Muslim historical sites are left exposed to attack
♦ State Neglect Clear: Protection existed on paper but not on the ground
♦ Cultural Erasure: History is being erased stone by stone

Community Voices Ignored and Pain Deepened

Local activists repeatedly warned authorities about the lack of security at the tomb, but no effective action was taken. Shamshir Khan was known as a peaceful figure who served the region, yet his final resting place was destroyed without consequence. For many Muslims, this incident symbolises how their history is treated as disposable. The silence after such acts deepens pain and fear.

♦ Warnings Dismissed: Authorities ignored repeated calls for protection
♦ Pain Normalised: Muslim grief is met with silence
♦ Fear Reinforced: Communities feel abandoned

India Turning Into a ‘Lynchistan’

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described today’s India as a “Lynchistan,” warning that mob violence has become common and dangerous. Reacting to recent lynchings and deaths following assaults, she said fear now defines daily life. Incidents that once shocked the nation are now treated as routine news. This normalisation shows how deeply law and justice have eroded.

♦ Mob Rule Rising: Crowds replace courts and law
♦ Fear Everywhere: Citizens live under constant threat
♦ Justice Weakened: Accountability is rare

Selective Outrage and Political Silence

Mehbooba Mufti highlighted the double standards in political reactions. Loud outrage is seen when incidents happen outside India, but silence follows when lynchings occur inside the country. From the killing of Mohammad Akhlaq onward, mob violence has continued without strong accountability. This silence sends a dangerous signal that violence will be tolerated.

♦ Double Standards Clear: Victims are valued differently
♦ Impunity Encouraged: Silence protects attackers
♦ Moral Decline Evident: Human values are sidelined

One Ideology Linking All Three Developments

Attacks on Kashmiri traders, demolition of Muslim heritage, and lynchings are driven by the same Hindutva ideology that treats diversity as a threat. Whether the target is a student, a labourer, a trader, or a historical symbol, the response remains the same. This ideological hostility connects all three stories into one reality of exclusion and fear.

♦ Same Mindset Everywhere: Different targets, same hatred
♦ Identity Criminalised: Religion and region invite violence
♦ State Protection Missing: Victims stand alone

Pakistan’s Perspective on Rights and Stability

Pakistan has consistently raised concerns about human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the persecution of minorities in India. Pakistan believes peace comes through dialogue, justice, and equal protection. Repression cannot bring stability; it only creates anger and resistance. These events strengthen Pakistan’s long-held position.

♦ Moral Stand Maintained: Pakistan highlights injustice globally
♦ Dialogue Over Force: Peace requires fairness
♦ Regional Impact: India’s actions affect the whole region

What These Events Ultimately Reveal

Taken together, these developments reveal a serious crisis within India’s social and political fabric. Attacks on Kashmiris, destruction of Muslim heritage, and unchecked lynchings expose a system drifting away from tolerance and justice. Each incident adds to a growing record that challenges India’s democratic image. Until accountability replaces impunity and rights replace hate, this cycle of injustice will continue to damage India from within.

♦ Reality Exposed: Truth becomes harder to hide
♦ Credibility Falling: Democratic claims lose weight
♦ Urgent Change Needed: Justice must replace fear