26/12/2025
Bajrang Dal Leader Ankur Singh Booked For Assaulting Kashmiri Shawl Vendor In Uttarakhand
Rudrapur, Dec 26: A complaint has been filed in connection with the assault of a Kashmiri shawl vendor allegedly by a right-wing group in Uttarakhand's Kashipur.
A Bajrang Dal leader, Ankur Singh, has been named as the main accused in the case.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said the complaint has now been formally taken on record. According to the group, Inspector General of Police (Kumaon Region) Riddhim Agarwal informed them that police teams have been dispatched and search operations are underway, with arrests expected soon.
We welcome this development and urge the Uttarakhand Police to ensure swift action, fair investigation, and strict punishment for all those involved so that justice is delivered to the victim and such incidents are not repeated in the future. The safety and dignity of Kashmiri traders and all minorities must be protected, and the rule of law must prevail," Mir Zubair, National Media Coordinator of the JKSA, said in a statement.
The incident took place on Monday when Bilal Ganie, a 28-year-old shawl seller from Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir, was allegedly assaulted by a group of men in Kashipur. A video of the incident, which later circulated on social media, showed Ganie being beaten and forced to chant slogans.
Ganie had earlier said he approached the police but was hesitant to pursue the case due to fear of retaliation and concerns about being tied up in a long legal process away from home.
He travels to Uttarakhand every winter to sell shawls door to door, as work becomes scarce in Kupwara during the colder months. He has been coming to the state for nearly eight years and depends on this seasonal income to support his family.
Earlier, police had said that an FIR was not immediately registered as an inquiry was underway.–(News18)
