Kashmiri shawl seller brutally assaulted in Uttarakhand; Teen suffers fractured arm, head injuries
_vb_66.jpeg)
Dehradun: An 18 year old shawl seller hailing from Kashmir suffers serious injuries after being assaulted by a mob, while selling shawls with his family in Uttarakhand’s Vikas Nagar on Tuesday. The attack left the teenager with a fractured arm and severe head injuries.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) stated that the youth was initially stopped and was interrogated about his identity. The situation reportedly turned violent, when the assailants learned that the family belonged to the Muslim community and hailed from Kashmir.
"The boy was beaten mercilessly, struck with iron rods and punched repeatedly. Other family members were also dragged, slapped and attacked" the association said in a statement.
The association alleged that the boy was beaten, struck with iron rods, and repeatedly punched, while other family members were also dragged, slapped, and assaulted. Initially, the victim was taken to a local hospital and later shifted to Doon Hospital of Dehradun due to the seriousness of his condition.
Family members said that the blood was oozing from his head and had sustained multiple bruises across his body; He even suffered the fracture in his left arm.
/ss.jpg)
(Courtesy: X/@NasirKhuehami)
Family members said the boy had been assisting his family in earning their daily bread during the winter season by selling shawls. They alleged that the violence intensified once the attackers became aware of the religious identity of the family and their Kashmir origin.
The association, JKSA, described the incident as a disturbing case of communal profiling and mob violence against a family trying to make their living through seasonal work. It warned that such attacks are inciting fear among Kashmiri Muslims, who travel to different states for the employment.
The association appealed the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, to intervene, and ensure the registration of a FIR, and take immediate legal action against those involved in the assault.
"This case must be pursued seriously to set a clear precedent against such acts of hate and violence" the statement said, adding that the state has a constitutional duty to protect every citizen irrespective of region, religion, or identity.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UDF will have huge win in Kerala, NDA won't open its account: Cong leader Satheesan
Kochi (PTI): Senior Congress leader V D Satheesan on Friday expressed confidence in a huge win by the UDF, claiming it will make a clean sweep in five districts, and brushed aside speculations that the NDA will open its account in Kerala.
Satheesan, speaking to reporters here a day after the conclusion of the Assembly polls, praised the performance of the UDF leaders and workers during the election, saying it was the best ever he has seen in the last 30 years.
He said that his claims of the UDF getting over 100 seats is not a mere statement, but based on the work the front has done during the last five years to bring back all those who had left it in 2005 and as a result, there was a huge wave in its favour in the state.
The leader of opposition in the state assembly, who contested from the Paravoor constituency, further said that the Congress-led front also had a major social backing from minorities and marginalised groups in the society.
Besides that, there was an anti-incumbency feeling among the people who were disappointed with the LDF rule, he claimed and said that the UDF provided them with a hope and an alternative which no other opposition had done in the past.
"All these factors will contribute to a huge win for the UDF and it would not be surprising if we make a clean sweep in Malappuram, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. That is a total of 43 seats," he said.
According to him, the polling percentage increased because the UDF got people added to the electoral list.
He also brushed aside the LDF remarks about a woman or youth CM, saying that "they can make such statements now as they know they cannot win".
"Otherwise, why did they campaign with Pinarayi Vijayan as the main factor. Why did they say a third Pinarayi rule will come?" he asked.
He also claimed that the LDF's decision to spend government money on its political campaign, by putting up hoardings and carrying out social media programmes to sway voters, has also backfired as people realised that their taxes were being wasted like that.
Asked whether the NDA will open its account, especially in areas where the UDF claimed the BJP-led front had made a deal with the LDF, Satheesan replied in the negative.
He said that as of now he does not see any chance of the NDA opening its account in the state.
