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No End to Violence Against Kashmiris

On the other hand, many citizens have also stepped forward, and have offered help to the Kashmiri students.
No End to Violence Against Kashmiris

Image for representational use only.Image Courtesy: NDTV

The assault on Kashmiris outside their state doesn’t seem to reach an end. In yet another such episode, a 24-year-old journalist was reportedly beaten up in Pune, Maharashtra.

The incident took place a day after Kashmiri students studying in a college in Yavatmal were attacked, allegedly by Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena. However, the local police have dubbed the episode as an incident of road rage.

Jibran Nazir, who works with a newspaper in Pune was allegedly attacked by two men during an altercation at a traffic signal. Reportedly, the attackers told him that they would “send him back to Kashmir”.

However, it has been maintained that it was “not an organised attack”. Reports said that he assailants apologised to Nazir later at the police station. As per a report by PTI, Nazir was attacked while he was returning home on a motorbike at about 10.45 PM. As he stopped, two men behind him started honking, and asked him to move. It is then that the two men and Nazir reportedly had a heated argument, which led to a squabble. It started with the duo saying that they would “pack him off to Himachal Pradesh”, as Nazir’s bike had Himachal Pradesh’s (HP) registration plate. When Nazir told them that he was from Jammu and Kashmir, the duo allegedly beat him up, and said that they will “send him off to Kashmir”.

Reports also said that the duo snatched his phone, damaged his bike, and fled. As per PTI, “Nazir had noted down their bike number, and approached the Swargate police station. Police located the assailants, in the early 20s, who came to the police station with their parents and apologised to him.” Nazir has decided not to pursue the matter further.

Meanwhile, yesterday, another Kashmiri student, Mohammed Wiqas Malik, who was pursuing B Tech from a college in Mohali, was allegedly beaten up by a mob for over an hour.

Speaking to NewsClick, Wiqas said, “I was on my way to the university in the morning. As I boarded the auto, the fellow passengers in the auto held me by my arms, took me off the auto, and thrashed me,” adding that he was talking to his family on phone and that is how the fellow passengers learnt that he was a Kashmiri. He was later reportedly thrown at a street in Kharad area, Chandigarh. After being rescued by a few locals, he went to a doctor, where it was reportedly found that his shoulder has been dislocated.

“I didn’t tell the doctor that I was beaten up by a mob. I said that I fell from the stairs, thinking that I have one more year till I get my degree. I never wanted it to be highlighted as it will affect my career. But I don’t know from where the police got to know about the incident. They came and asked me why I have been lying,” Wiqas told NewsClick. Wiqas also said that the assailants were saying that they would “kill him as Kashmiris killed CRPF in Pulwama”.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to central government and 10 state governments to ensure the protection and security of Kashmiri students, in response to a petition seeking intervention to prevent alleged attacks on Kashmiris following the Pulwama attack.

However, despite the SC notice, incidents of violence against Kashmiri students continue to take place against the backdrop of Pulwama suicide bomb attack, which led to the death of at least 40 CRPF personnel. Kashmiri students have alleged that they have been beaten up, thrashed, asked to return to Kashmir, and were hounded by mobs belonging to right wing organisations. On the other hand, many citizens have also stepped forward, and have offered help to the Kashmiri students, who are feeling threatened because of the hostile environment.

Many Indians have opened their doors for Kashmiri students who can’t return to Kashmir due skyrocketing ticket prices. Social activist Harsh Mander, with the help of social media website, Twitter, offered help to fellow Kashmiris. In his tweet, he wrote, “Soldiers felled by terror are our brothers and sons. Every Indian mourns their loss. Every Kashmiri is also our brother and son. In Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Patna, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai. We assure safety to any Kashmiri.”

Volunteers from Khalsa Aid, an international Sikh NGO have stepped in e itoeslp Kashmiri students in distress. From providing food to arranging bus services, the NGO did everything to ensure safety of these students. Kashmiris have thanked Khalsa Aid by offering free services to the Sikh community in Kashmir.

Also read: The Kashmir Question: A ‘Made in India’ Problem

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