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An 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl vendor was attacked with iron rods in Uttarakhand after being asked his identity, leaving him seriously injured. The assault has sparked political outrage and renewed questions over the safety of Kashmiris working outside J&K.
An 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl vendor was brutally assaulted in Dehradun
Dehradun: An 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl vendor was brutally assaulted in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun district, triggering political outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of people from Jammu and Kashmir working outside the Union Territory.
The incident took place on Wednesday evening in the Vikas Nagar area of Dehradun, where the teenager was selling shawls along with his family. According to preliminary information, the youth was allegedly attacked by a group of people who first questioned him about his identity before launching a violent assault.
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The attackers allegedly used iron rods to hit the teenager, leaving him with multiple bruises, head injuries and a fracture in his left arm. Members of his family who were present at the spot were also reportedly beaten during the incident.
Following the assault, the injured boy was initially taken to a local hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later shifted to Doon Hospital in Dehradun for specialised medical treatment. Doctors have confirmed that the victim sustained head injuries along with a fractured arm.
This 18 year old Kashmiri shawl vendor was assaulted in Uttarakhand with irons rods till his bones crumbled. It’s one of many acts of violence against Kashmiris in India where perpetrators know they enjoy institutional impunity. These are NOT fringe elements anymore. BJP is… pic.twitter.com/R2sGhcVzj5
— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) January 29, 2026
Police officials said they are examining the circumstances surrounding the attack and reviewing available evidence, including eyewitness accounts.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah strongly condemned the incident, calling it unacceptable. In a post on X, Abdullah said that repeated attacks on Kashmiris in different parts of the country must stop.
“It can’t be claimed that J&K is an inalienable part of India while people from Kashmir live in fear for their lives elsewhere,” he said, adding that his government would intervene wherever necessary to ensure such incidents are not repeated. He also urged the Union Home Ministry to sensitise other states on the issue.
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PDP leader Iltija Mufti, daughter of former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, also condemned the assault and demanded strict action against the perpetrators. Tagging Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in a social media post, she urged the state government to take immediate steps and ensure accountability.
“This is not an isolated incident,” she alleged, calling for firm action to prevent further violence against Kashmiris working or trading outside the region.
The attack has once again brought attention to the safety and security concerns faced by Kashmiri traders and workers in several states, with calls growing for stronger enforcement and inter-state coordination to prevent such incidents.
