Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh: An elderly Kashmiri Muslim man visiting Saharanpur for medical treatment was allegedly threatened and harassed by local goons, triggering outrage after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The victim, identified as Mohd Wali Shah from Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, was reportedly intercepted and intimidated in public. The incident has raised serious concerns over the safety of Kashmiri citizens living or travelling outside the Union Territory for medical care and livelihood.
The accused has been identified as Yashasvi Arya, a resident of Ramdaspur village, who claims to be the National President of an organisation named Hindu Yuva Shakti Sangathan. In the video, Arya is seen using abusive language, issuing threats, and attempting to instil fear among Kashmiri vendors and patients.
He is heard making inflammatory remarks, including alleging that Kashmiris “only know how to make bombs and carry weapons,” and urging locals not to rent homes or offer assistance to them. He also issued threats invoking past communal violence, stating that Kashmiri Muslims would be treated like Kashmiri Pandits, remarks that many have termed as hate speech and criminal intimidation.
This incident is reported to be the eighth case this year involving harassment of Kashmiri Muslims outside Jammu and Kashmir. Civil society groups and rights activists have warned that such repeated incidents point to a disturbing pattern of targeting Kashmiris and could undermine public order, social harmony, and constitutional guarantees.
There has been growing pressure on Saharanpur Police to take swift and strict legal action against those involved. Civil society organisations have appealed for immediate registration of an FIR under relevant sections related to hate speech, intimidation, and threats, stressing that failure to act could embolden further communal harassment.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the action taken in the matter.
