An 18-year-old Kashmiri youth selling shawls in Uttarakhand’s Vikas Nagar area was seriously injured after being assaulted by a mob, the Jammu Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said on Wednesday.
According to the association, the youth had travelled to Uttarakhand to help his family earn a livelihood during the winter season. He was allegedly attacked by a group of people who questioned him about his identity. The situation escalated after they learned that he was a Muslim from Kashmir, the JKSA claimed.
The victim sustained a fracture in his left arm and suffered serious head injuries after being struck with iron rods. He was initially taken to a local hospital and later referred to Doon Hospital in Dehradun, where doctors described his condition as serious. Multiple bruises were reportedly found on his body.
The JKSA said other family members accompanying the youth were also assaulted, dragged, and slapped during the incident.
Condemning the attack, the association described it as a disturbing example of rising communal violence and intolerance. It urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to intervene, ensure the registration of a strict FIR, and direct authorities to take action against those involved.
The association also demanded adequate security for Kashmiri traders and labourers working in the state.
