Continued harassment could have far-reaching consequences for the wider handicrafts sector

Intimidations and assaults on Kashmiri shawl vendors in several Indian states continue unabated, with little accountability on the ground and rising fear among seasonal traders who say they are being targeted for their identity.

The incidents have put thousands of families’ livelihoods at risk and strained fragile handicrafts supply chain.

Over the past two weeks, videos of Kashmiri vendors being assaulted in Uttarakhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have circulated online, prompting fear among traders. Young vendors say many such cases go unreported due to fear of reprisal or lack of local support.

“We come here to earn with dignity, not to be humiliated,” said one vendor, who requested anonymity. Traders warn that without firm intervention from local authorities, the situation could worsen and further shrink their already limited earning window.

Every winter, thousands of Kashmiri traders travel to other states to sell shawls, which form a primary source of income for their households. Most come from modest backgrounds with limited economic options at home, making the season critical.

“These months are crucial for them, but recent attacks have created so much fear that many are hesitant to enter Hindu-majority neighbourhoods,” said Zaffar Ullah, a prominent shawl trader.

Qazi Tauseef, spokesperson of the Kashmir Economic Alliance, said continued harassment could have far-reaching consequences for the wider handicrafts sector. Traders say the violence has also disrupted payments to artisans.

“This chain is fragile,” said another trader. “If hawkers can’t sell, we can’t recover money, and artisans go unpaid. One disruption affects hundreds of families,”, he added. 

Kashmir has more than 3.81 lakh registered artisans and weavers across nearly 60 traditional crafts, according to government figures.

Senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami urged Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure the vendors’ safety, warning that many traders are considering returning early due to harassment. “Requesting the Home Minister @AmitShah to intervene and ensure their safety,” he wrote on X.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent religious leader, also condemned the incidents, calling the situation “very disturbing”. “Despite assurances by those at the helm, harassment of Kashmiris continues, unchecked and unpunished. This must stop immediately,” he said, calling it a matter of basic rights and dignity.

Nasir Khuehami of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said the pattern of attacks was “dangerous and deeply disturbing”.

The association said police have registered an FIR over the assault on a vendor in Haryana’s Kaithal district.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken cognisance of a reported attack in Uttarakhand, with officials indicating that assaults on Kashmiri traders will be dealt with firmly.

Published on December 31, 2025