29-04-2025
3 Arrested After Video Of Kashmiri Shawl Sellers Being Slapped, Abused In Mussoorie Sparks Outrage
The J&K students' body claimed that around 16 other Kashmiri traders were also "threatened, harassed, and forced to vacate their rented homes" in Mussoorie
A video showing two Kashmiri shawl sellers in Uttarakhand's Mussoorie being harassed by three local men surfaced on social media on Tuesday, sparking widespread outrage. The clip shows the men repeatedly slapping the vendors, hurling abuse, and forcing them to shut their roadside stall.
In the footage, three individuals — led by a bearded man — can be seen repeatedly slapping and shouting at the vendors. One of the sellers showed his Aadhaar card to prove he was a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, but was still assaulted. The men told the vendors to pack up and leave, continuing to slap them even after they confirmed their identity.
Following outrage over the viral video, Uttarakhand Police arrested the three accused. They have been identified as Suraj Singh from Tehri Garhwal, Pradeep Singh from Hathipaon, and Abhishek Uniyal from the Company Garden area of Mussoorie.
While condemning the incident on social media platform X, Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) National Convenor Nasir Khuehami alleged that the attackers were 'members of the Bajrang Dal."
'We received deeply disturbing and chilling reports from Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, where two Kashmiri shawl sellers were brutally assaulted by members of the Bajrang Dal," Khuehami wrote in his post, sharing the video of the alleged assault.
Additionally, the JKSA national convenor claimed that around 16 other Kashmiri traders, mostly from Kupwara district, were also 'threatened, harassed, and forced to vacate their rented homes" in Mussoorie.
'These are not newcomers, many of them have been doing business and selling shawls in Mussoorie for years, contributing to the local economy and living peacefully within the community," he added.
In a follow-up post, Khuehami said that Uttarakhand DGP Deepam Seth had informed him that police had taken immediate action. 'All three accused have been arrested, and legal proceedings have been initiated against them," he wrote.
'The culprits apologized for their actions and assured that they would not repeat such behavior in the future. Legal proceedings are being initiated against them under the Police Act," Khuehami added.
तीन युवकों द्वारा माल रोड मसूरी में सामान बेच रहे एक कश्मीरी युवक के साथ अभद्र व्यवहार किये जाने के संबंध में देहरादून पुलिस द्वारा दिनांक 25/4/25 को तत्काल कार्रवाई की गई थी जिसमें तीन अभियुक्तों को गिरफ्तार कर उनके विरुद्ध वैधानिक कार्रवाई की गई थी — Dehradun Police Uttarakhand (@DehradunPolice) April 29, 2025
Confirming the arrests, Dehradun Police shared on X that they took 'took immediate action regarding the incident of three youths misbehaving with a Kashmiri youth selling goods on Mall Road, Mussoorie."
(With inputs from PTI)
