Kashmiri traders harassed, forced into chanting communal slogans in India
Srinagar: The Kashmiri trader community is facing harassment in India by Hindu extremist groups due to their firm commitment to the Kashmir cause and Islamic beliefs.
According to Kashmir Media Service, traders have been coerced into chanting communal slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” In one incident, Kashmiri shawl sellers were forced to vacate areas and halt sales in Himachal Pradesh, marking the 15th reported case of such intimidation in recent months.
Nomadic shawl vendors told media that extremist groups have been threatening, obstructing, and targeting them while conducting their business, similar to incidents in December 2024. Over a dozen traders lodged complaints with the press.
Kashmiri vendors sell leather jackets, socks, bags, handmade Pashmina shawls, and women’s suits. Every year, they travel to Indian states in early November and return after March, carrying their goods on their shoulders and selling wherever customers are found.
“We are being forced by Hindutva extremist groups to stop our trade. They tell us to pack up and return to Kashmir,” said a trader in Himachal Pradesh, speaking anonymously due to fear of retaliation.
He added that while intimidation has occurred in the past, it has intensified this year, with vendors even facing harassment while buying food and other essentials. Stepping out of their rented accommodations has become increasingly difficult.
Thousands of Kashmiris travel every winter to sell handmade goods door-to-door or street-to-street in various Indian states. They face verbal abuse, physical assault, and social boycotts due to their regional identity and rising communal tensions.
Traders say such anti-Kashmir and communal incidents have escalated since 2014, after the BJP-led government under Narendra Modi assumed power.
