Another alarming trend has been noticed, the increase of animosity and hatred towards innocent Kashmiris. Two dry fruit vendors from Kashmir were attacked by men from a fringe right-wing group in Lucknow last evening, amid the nationwide backlash on Kashmiris following the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama.
In one video, the vendors sitting on the roadside with their wares spread out, were seen being beaten up by men dressed in saffron. The Kashmiris are seen trying to shield their heads and pleading the attackers to stop.
https://twitter.com/scribe_prashant/status/1103349763364159488
Another video of the same, shows that the attackers asking the second vendor for his identify card as he tried to pack up and leave.
https://twitter.com/scribe_prashant/status/1103353671310442497
The two vendors, however, were rescued by some of the locals, who advised the attackers not to “take law into your own hands” and to call in the police.
“These men just descended on us. They started beating us and calling us terrorists. We have been coming for 20 years. Something like this has never happened with us before,” one of the dry fruit sellers said while describing the traumatic moments.to reporters.
“They said we are terrorists. We were told that we sell items here and throw stones there. They started thrashing us.
According to reports, a case of breach of peace and rioting has also been registered against the goons, and one man named Bajrang Sonkar has been arrested.
Omar Abdullah tweeted a video of the incident and said,
Nothing will do more damage to the idea of India in J&K than videos like these. Keep thrashing Kashmiris like this on the streets at the hands of RSS/Bajrang Dal goons & then try to sell the idea of “atoot ang”, it simply wont fly. https://t.co/MYkuEuDLjj
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 7, 2019
The harassment of Kashmiris has pushed the central government to issue an advisory to the states for their safety. Last month, the Supreme Court had asked 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh, to take “prompt action” to ensure Kashmiris living across the country do not face social boycott or attacks.
