Srinagar, Nov 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Thursday condemned the alarming reports of profiling, harassment, intimidation, and sudden eviction faced by Kashmiri shawl sellers and students in Himachal Pradesh. The Association has sought the immediate intervention of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that Kashmiri shawl sellers have alleged that local panchayat authorities, right-wing groups, and certain individuals are forcibly checking their bags under unfounded suspicions of carrying weapons or explosives.
Vendors have reported being restricted from moving freely without prior verification from the panchayat and local police, creating an atmosphere of fear, insecurity, and unnecessary hurdles to their livelihood.
The Association urged the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, to intervene immediately, order an impartial inquiry, and direct the administration to halt any form of discriminatory conduct. It is essential that strong instructions are issued to ensure that no citizen is harassed or profiled on the basis of identity or region. Such behaviour must not go unchecked, and strict legal action against those responsible will send a clear message that communal bigotry has no place in an inclusive and progressive society.
