NHRC takes cognisance of alleged attacks on Kashmiri students, shawl hawkers across India, says students body

Millat Times Desk

16 June 2026 (Publish: 05:55 AM IST)

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of allegations of harassment, discrimination and attacks against Kashmiri students and shawl traders in several Indian states, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said on Monday.

The association said the NHRC had registered a formal case after receiving a complaint detailing alleged incidents of intimidation, communal profiling and physical assaults involving Kashmiris in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

The complaint, submitted by JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami, alleges that Kashmiri shawl traders were assaulted, threatened and prevented from carrying out their business activities in some locations. It also claims that some traders were forced to leave areas where they had lived and worked for years due to security concerns.

According to the association, Kashmiri students in different states reported facing difficulties in securing accommodation, as well as instances of communal profiling, intimidation and threats.

The NHRC has registered the matter as Case No. 684/90/0/2026, JKSA said, adding that the rights body is expected to seek reports from the concerned state governments and law enforcement agencies.

The reports are likely to include details of police complaints registered, arrests made, action taken against those accused, and measures adopted to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students and traders, the association said.

Welcoming the development, JKSA said it hoped the commission would conduct a thorough examination of the allegations and ensure accountability where authorities had failed to protect affected individuals.

The association said the complaint was based on reports received over several months from Kashmiri students and traders who allegedly faced repeated incidents of harassment in different parts of the country. It added that some traders had discontinued their businesses and returned to Jammu and Kashmir due to fears over their safety.

The NHRC has not yet publicly commented on the matter.