Kashmiri traders harassed, called Pakistani in India

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A video showing Kashmiri Muslim traders being harassed and coerced to chant Hindu religious slogans in northern India has renewed concerns over the safety of Kashmiris living and working far from their home region, as religious nationalism increasingly shapes everyday life for minorities across the country.

The incident occurred in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh state, where traders from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir travel seasonally to sell dry fruits such as almonds and walnuts. 

The footage, which circulated widely on social media this week, shows a group of men confronting the traders, verbally abusing them, accusing them of being “Pakistanis,” and attempting to force them to chant “Jai Shri Ram.”

The phrase, Jai Shri Ram meaning “Victory to Lord Ram,” has in recent years been repurposed by Hindu extremist groups as a political slogan and war cry. It is increasingly used in public spaces to assert religious dominance and intimidate Muslims.

In the video, the men are seen filming the traders while issuing threats and ordering them to leave unless they comply. The traders appear visibly distressed and attempt to avoid escalation. 

For many Kashmiri Muslims, being branded “Pakistani” is a familiar form of abuse, rooted in decades of conflict and suspicion surrounding Kashmir, a disputed region claimed by both India and Pakistan.

One of the traders targeted, Waheed Ahmad Malik, said the harassment began during routine business hours. Malik, who travels from southern Kashmir each year to earn a seasonal income, said the men told him and his colleagues they would not be allowed to sell unless they chanted the slogan.

According to Malik, attempts to explain that they were Indian citizens only intensified the abuse. He said the group continued to issue threats, warning that they would face consequences if they returned. 

Malik added that such intimidation was not new and alleged that on earlier occasions, individuals had taken dry fruits without paying and threatened violence when the traders protested.

The traders also alleged a lack of institutional support. Malik said previous complaints to local police had yielded little response, reinforcing a perception among Kashmiri traders that reporting harassment could invite further scrutiny rather than protection.

Other traders said they have worked in the same area for years, relying on seasonal migration to support families back home in Kashmir, where economic opportunities remain limited due to prolonged conflict and restrictions. The incident, they said, has left many questioning whether it is safe to continue operating in mainland Indian cities.

Local police acknowledged awareness of the video but said action would depend on a formal complaint. An officer said the footage was being reviewed and that steps would follow after verification.

Civil rights advocates say the episode reflects a broader national pattern. In recent years, Muslims across India — particularly those involved in informal or street-based commerce — have faced harassment, boycott campaigns and vigilante violence linked to Hindu nationalist ideology. 

For Kashmiris, the vulnerability is compounded by geography and identity, as decades of political conflict have cast them as perpetual suspects even when engaged in ordinary economic activity.

Since India revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in 2019, reports of surveillance, arbitrary questioning and social hostility toward Kashmiris outside the region have increased. 

Analysts say the Lucknow incident illustrates how stigma attached to Kashmir has travelled beyond the conflict zone, placing ordinary traders at risk thousands of kilometers from home.