
Kashmiri Shawl Vendors Flee Mussoorie After Brutal Attack and Police Inaction
May 1, 2025A violent assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie has not only shaken the community but also sparked national outrage over growing hostility and systemic neglect.
At least 16 Kashmiri shawl traders have fled Mussoorie in fear after two of their colleagues were brutally assaulted by alleged Hindutva activists in the heart of the town’s tourist zone, Mall Road.
The disturbing incident, which was captured on video and circulated widely online, showed a mob repeatedly thrashing and abusing the vendors. The attackers demanded identity proof and ordered the Kashmiris to vacate the area immediately.
Mussoorie police confirmed that three of the accused—Suraj Singh, Pradeep Singh, and Abhishek Uniyal—are affiliated with the Bajrang Dal, a hardline Hindu nationalist group. Despite this, no meaningful assurance of safety was given to the victims.
One of the assaulted vendors, 36-year-old Shabir Ahmed Dar from Kupwara, shared that he and others had been coming to Mussoorie for nearly 20 years during the summer season. “We have lived and worked here for 18 years. Our families know the locals well. But when the attack happened, no one came to help,” he said. According to Dar, police later warned them that their safety could not be guaranteed and advised them to leave the town.
Another trader, 30-year-old Javed Ahmed, recounted the emotional and financial toll of the incident. “We had to abandon merchandise worth ₹12 lakh,” he said, expressing deep uncertainty about whether they would ever feel safe enough to return.
The attack has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, particularly from senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mirwaiz condemned the attack and the police’s failure to protect the victims. He described the situation as “very disturbing” and part of a larger pattern of violence targeting Kashmiris across India.
Mirwaiz linked the assaults on vendors to broader crackdowns in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), including mass detentions and the demolition of homes. He said the recent events were part of a trend where students, traders, and ordinary citizens from IIOJK are being targeted outside the region.
He emphasized that Kashmiris, who have long suffered violence themselves, empathize with the victims of tragedies like the Pahalgam attack—but instead of compassion, they are being demonized and attacked. “This collective punishment inside and outside Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is unjust and inhuman,” Mirwaiz stated.
In a heartfelt appeal, he urged Indian citizens to reject hate-fueled narratives and stand against divisive propaganda. “Please don’t fall prey to hatred and mistrust. Kashmiris deserve protection and dignity,” he said.