The tragedy in Pahalgam was brutal. Twenty-six civilians lost their lives in a horrifying attack that stunned the entire country. In the aftermath, there was mourning. There was outrage. But in some places, that anger took a cruel and familiar turn.

Just days after the attack, reports started coming in. 17 separate incidents of Kashmiri students and traders being targeted across India.

In Punjab, students were beaten on campus with sticks and knives. In Uttarakhand, they were told to leave their colleges or face worse. In Delhi, a student at Jamia Millia Islamia was reportedly assaulted. In Himachal Pradesh and Mussoorie, Kashmiri shawl sellers were hounded, threatened, and forced to run.

This isn’t new.

Every time violence breaks out in the valley, the same thing happens. Innocent Kashmiris become punching bags for collective anger. They’re asked to explain what they had nothing to do with. They’re told to prove their loyalty. And too often, they’re met with fists instead of questions.

When something like Pahalgam happens, it’s not just the people in Kashmir who........

© Kashmir Observer