Tensions are spilling beyond the Line of Control (LoC) as Kashmiris across India face violence following the deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), that killed 26 tourists.
In Mussoorie, Hindu right-wing groups publicly attacked two Kashmiri vendors, including Shabir Ahmad Dar, who had been selling pashmina shawls there for 20 years.
Mob Assault in Broad Daylight
A video circulating on social media shows the mob beating Shabir and a colleague while vandalising their stall. Shabir told the BBC the attackers blamed him for the killings and warned him never to return.
“My goods are still at the stall, but we are too scared to go back,” he said.
Police later arrested three individuals, but they were released on bail after paying a fine and apologising.
By then, Shabir and dozens of other Kashmiris had already left the town. “We no longer feel safe,” many told reporters.
Targeted for Being Kashmiri
Reports of threats and harassment against Kashmiris have surged in cities like Delhi, Punjab, and Dehradun.
Students and street vendors say they are being vilified, called terrorists, and chased off campuses. In several cases, taxi drivers have refused to transport them.
Ummat Shabir, a nursing student in Punjab, said women in her area labelled her a terrorist. Her classmate was thrown out of a cab by the driver after learning she was Kashmiri.
“It took us three days to return to Kashmir. We had no choice,” she said.
Fear Grows in the Homeland Too
Back in Kashmir, fear continues to rise. In response to the attack, Indian security forces have detained thousands, shut over 50 tourist sites, and deployed more troops.
Authorities also demolished homes of those accused of terror links. Locals are calling the sweeping crackdown “collective punishment.”
“We are the first to suffer whenever tensions rise,” a student told requesting anonymity.
Read: India Bans Imports from Pakistan as Kashmir Tensions Escalate
Emotional Toll Runs Deep
Shafi Subhan, a vendor from Kupwara who worked in Mussoorie for two decades, said the current hate wave feels worse than even the Pulwama aftermath in 2019.
“Mussoorie felt like home. People loved our work. But this time, no one stood up for us,” he said.
Leaders Caution Against Excesses
IIOJK’s former chief ministers have urged restraint. Omar Abdullah said guilty parties must be punished but warned against harming the innocent.
Mehbooba Mufti condemned the demolitions and urged the government to separate “civilians from terrorists.”
No Signs of Calm
As India and Pakistan trade fire at the LoC, the domestic front is also unraveling. Rights groups warn that the current crackdown and mob targeting could inflame tensions further.
One survivor of the Pahalgam attack, whose husband died, pleaded for peace. “Don’t target Muslims or Kashmiris. We only want peace,” she said.
Despite her appeal, the fear among Kashmiris—across India and in IIOJK—continues to grow.
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