Pahalgam attack casts a shadow over Jammu and Kashmir students outside State

The Hindu

02-05-2025

On Thursday, Himanshi Narwal, wife of Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal killed by terrorists in Pahalgam, made an appeal for peace and unity, urging the public not to direct anger or hatred towards Muslims or Kashmiris. Among those who have faced hostility are students from Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has documented 18 such incidents so far, concentrated in states such as Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
'On a positive note, not a single case has been reported from South India,' said Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, attributing it in-part to pre-emptive measures taken by State governments. 'I received calls from politicians and police officials from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other states, seeking our suggestions on how to prevent violence against Kashmiris,' Nasir Khuehami.
The Hindu spoke to several Kashmiri students in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, who said life has remained normal and they have not faced any hostility. But, in a few North Indian states, some Jammu and Kashmir have faced hostility and suspicion as sympathisers of terrorists.
'How could I eat?'
Muhammad Iqbal, a Kashmiri shawl vendor in Mussoorie, was assaulted by locals just a day after the Pahalgam terror attack. 'Initially, three people approached me, checked my Aadhaar card, and began hurling abuses, targeting my mother and sister with vile language. Soon, nearly ten others joined in and slapped me repeatedly,' Iqbal told The Hindu.
His hopes for a successful tourist season were abruptly replaced by fear and despair. 'I couldn't leave the house for two days. How could I even eat after going through something so traumatic?' he said. Iqbal was stunned that despite being an Indian citizen and contributing to the country's economy for years, he was unjustly associated with the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack.
'We had to run away'
A spokesperson from Hindu Raksha Dal had shared a message on X , threatening Kashmiri Muslims to leave their homes in Dehradun or risk being punished. The video, which went viral, managed to spread fear among the students, who stayed indoors for days or spent exorbitant air fare to go home. 'I have my semester exams in two days. Yet, I did not risk being in Dehradun,' said Adil Nazir, who spent ₹11,000 to buy a last minute ticket to Kashmir. 'I stayed in the airport the whole night as I felt it would be safe and boarded the flight,' Adil, who is studying B pharmacy in Alpine Group of Institutes, Dehradun, told The Hindu.
J&K students report that house owners who once shared meals with them are now asking them to vacate. Friendly glances from locals have turned into looks of suspicion. 'My landlord gave me two days to vacate. I'm still in shock—it's the same person who had been kind to me for over a year. One incident, where I have no role, and suddenly I'm treated like an enemy,' said Basheer (name changed), an undergraduate student in Chandigarh.
For women students, the hostility took a gendered turn as verbal sexual harassment. 'A group of men on a street slut shamed me, insulted my religion and linked me with the Pahalgam attack,' said Ayesha (name changed), a student from Mumbai.
Measures in place
Many educational institutions have been taking counter-measures. In Doon Group of Colleges, Dehradun, where 120 Kashmir students are studying, the college management transferred students from outside to college hostels and arranged vehicles for their commute. 'Since examinations are happening now, we want to ensure they have a safe commute to the college. The management ensures that there is no harassment of the students,' said Mohsin Abas Dar, admission coordinator, Doon Group Of Colleges Dehradun.
Zubair Abdul, a geology undergraduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, said that while his predominantly Muslim university remains a safe space, students are worried for the Kashmir diaspora in other regions. 'We've been taking precautions by avoiding gatherings, staying inside campus boundaries and not stepping out unnecessarily,' Zubair Abdul said. Kashmir students studying across the country have a whatsapp group, where incidents of violence and bigotry are reported. 'There's a lot of concern. It feels like a repetition of Pulwama,' Zubair said.
Abdul (name changed), a 22-year-old BSc student from Chandigarh's Saraswathi College, said the atmosphere has become tense and uncertain since the Pahalgam attack. 'So many rumours are floating around,' he said. 'But, the police have visited our hostel and shared their contact numbers. Because exams are happening, security has been increased. If any Kashmiri student wants to go home, they're offering protection until we cross the Punjab border,' Abdul said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association reports that the number of reported cases of harassment were more after the 2019 Pulwama attack. Following the Pahalgam attack, fewer cases have been reported, yet the level of fear among students remains high.
To ensure that these incidents do not escalate, Jammu and Kashmir Students Association is urging the Central government to create a mechanism with nodal officers from all Indian states and establish helpline numbers to reach out to Kashmir students in distress. 'Educational institutions with a good number of Kashmir students should set up grievance cells,' said Nasir.