SRINAGAR: Days after two Kashmiri shawl sellers were harassed and bullied in Surjanpur village of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, the Himachal Pradesh Police have registered an FIR against the woman Block Development Council (BDC) member responsible, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said on Wednesday.
The Association quoted the Director General of Police (DGP) Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Atul Verma as informing the JKSA National Convener, Nasir Khuehami that strict action has been taken in the matter and an FIR has been formally registered against the accused.
Khuehami in a statement issued here said that the FIR, numbered 86/24, has been lodged under Sections 196(1) and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. He said that despite the victims’ magnanimous decision to forgive the woman and request the police not to file charges, the government proceeded with registering the FIR against BDC member Sushmi Devi.
“The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kangra, Shalini Agnihotri, confirmed the registration of the FIR and stated that the state government is committed to setting a strong precedent to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future,” the statement said.
Khuehami appreciated the proactive stance and intervention of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, DGP Himal Pradesh Dr Atul Verma, and the Himachal Pradesh police, emphasizing that acts of communal prejudice must be addressed decisively to safeguard communal harmony. He reiterated that while the woman had expressed regret and issued a formal apology for her behaviour, justice must not be compromised, particularly in cases where Kashmiri, marginalized and minority communities are targeted. Khuehami asserted, “This step sends a strong message that hate and harassment will not be tolerated.”
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in the state and Kashmiri labourers working here. They will not be harmed or harassed at any cost,” Chief Minister’s Principal Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan informed Khuehami, according to the statement.
The National Spokesperson of the Association, Aadil Bhat, commended Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Principal Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan for their swift intervention. Bhat stated that such measures restore faith among Kashmiri and minority communities, ensuring their safety and dignity are upheld.
“Communal harmony is fragile, and incidents like this can have far-reaching consequences. We urge authorities across states to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against hate-based actions,” he added.
FIR filed against woman BDC member for harassing Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal: JKSA
