A Kashmiri shawl vendor was beaten by a group of Hindutva men in Uttarakhand after being forced to chant Bharat Mata ki jai, with a video of the assault posted on social media and later removed after a complaint was filed with the police.
The incident occurred on Monday in Kashipur, where the vendor, identified as Bilal Ganie from Kupwara district in north Kashmir, was waylaid while travelling with his stock during the winter selling season, and was allegedly assaulted by five men who targeted him after learning that he was from Kashmir, according to The Indian Express.
The video, which surfaced briefly on Instagram through the account of one of the alleged attackers, showed the man being physically attacked and verbally abused, and drew attention to the incident before being taken down.
Ganie, who has been travelling to Uttarakhand for seasonal work for the past eight years, reportedly approached the police and submitted a complaint but later expressed reluctance to pursue the case further, citing fear of reprisals and concerns that a prolonged legal process would prevent him from returning home to Kashmir.
He depends on winter sales for his livelihood, as work as a carpenter in Kupwara becomes scarce during the colder months, and he earns a modest income during his three-month stay in the state.
According to his account, the attackers intercepted him while he was moving through Pratap Pur, questioned him about his identity, assaulted and humiliated him, and attempted to force him to accompany them, while passers-by allegedly failed to intervene and instead encouraged the harassment.
Since the incident, he has largely confined himself indoors, venturing out only to approach the authorities.
Police officials in Kashipur have said that a formal FIR has not yet been registered as an inquiry is underway, and that the accused have submitted a written apology, while rights groups have criticised the response as inadequate.