The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of allegations of harassment, discrimination and attacks against Kashmiri shawl sellers and students in several parts of India, according to the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA).
The association said the human rights body has registered a formal case after receiving a complaint highlighting multiple incidents of alleged intimidation, communal profiling and physical assaults in states including Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
The complaint was submitted earlier this year by JKSA national convenor Nasir Khuehami.
“Forced to leave, threatened and assaulted”: JKSA
According to JKSA, the complaint documents serious allegations where Kashmiri shawl sellers were “assaulted, threatened, humiliated and prevented from carrying out their trade.”
The association also said that in some cases, traders were allegedly “forced to leave areas where they had been living and working peacefully for decades.”
JKSA added that Kashmiri students in different states also reported “denial of accommodation, communal profiling, intimidation and physical threats.”
The organisation said, “Despite repeated representations to state administrations and law enforcement agencies, many affected individuals continued to live under fear and uncertainty.”
NHRC registers case and begins process
The JKSA said the NHRC has formally registered the matter as Case No. 684/90/0/2026 after initially acknowledging the complaint and assigning it a diary number earlier.
The Commission is expected to issue notices to concerned state governments and seek detailed reports from police and administrative authorities.
These reports are likely to include details on FIRs registered, arrests made, action taken against accused persons, preventive steps taken by authorities, and measures to ensure safety of Kashmiri students and traders.
“Equal citizens, entitled to protection”: JKSA
The association welcomed the NHRC’s action and said it hopes the matter will be examined thoroughly.
A JKSA spokesperson said, “We urge the Commission to ensure accountability where there have been lapses in protecting vulnerable individuals.”
The association also stressed that Kashmiris are “equal citizens of India” and deserve full constitutional protection.
It said, “Violence, discrimination, intimidation or social exclusion against any citizen on the basis of identity, region, religion or attire has no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law.”
Background of alleged incidents
JKSA said the complaint is based on multiple reports received over months, where Kashmiri shawl sellers and students allegedly faced repeated targeting in different states.
The organisation claimed that in some cases, people were compelled to discontinue their businesses and return to Jammu and Kashmir due to fear and insecurity.
It further said the NHRC’s intervention is an important step toward addressing concerns of safety, dignity and livelihood for Kashmiri citizens living outside the Union Territory.
