Act against communal intolerance, says JKSA
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has welcomed the action of the Himachal Pradesh Police against a women who allegedly harassed and bullied two Kashmiri shawl sellers in Surjanpur village in Kangra district.
National convener, JKSA, Nasir Khuehami, in a statement, said strict action had been taken in the matter and FIR had been registered against the accused.
He said despite the victims’ magnanimous decision to forgive the woman and request the police not to file charges, the government proceeded with registering FIR against the BDC member Sushmi Devi.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kangra, Shalini Agnihotri, confirmed the registration of the FIR and stated that the state government was committed to setting a strong precedent to ensure that such incidents were not repeated.
Khuehami welcomed the stance of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, DGP Himachal Pradesh Dr Atul Verma, and the Himachal Pradesh Police, and said that that the 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, marginalised and minority communities were targeted. Khuehami said, “This step sends a strong message that hate and harassment will not be tolerated.”
The national spokesperson of the association, Aadil Bhat, said such measures restored faith among the Kashmiri and minority communities and ensured their safety and dignity.
