Srinagar- An 18-year-old Kashmiri youth selling shawls in Uttarakhand’s Vikas Nagar area suffered serious injuries after being brutally assaulted by a mob.

According to the Jammu Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), the young boy, who was helping his family earn a livelihood during the winter season, was attacked by a group of fringe elements and beaten mercilessly. He sustained a fracture in his left arm and suffered severe head injuries after being struck with iron rods. Blood was reportedly oozing from his head following the assault.

The victim was initially rushed to a local hospital before being referred to Doon Hospital in Dehradun for advanced treatment. Doctors described his condition as serious, with multiple bruises found across his body.

In a statement, the JKSA said relatives of the victim informed them that the youth was first questioned about his identity by the attackers. “Upon learning that the family belonged to the Muslim community and hailed from Kashmir, the violence escalated,” the association said. The attackers allegedly punched the boy repeatedly, while other family members accompanying him were dragged, slapped and assaulted with sharp iron rods.

Terming the incident a chilling reminder of growing communal intolerance and mob brutality, the JKSA said the youth was merely trying to support his family through honest means. “An 18-year-old selling shawls to help his family survive the harsh winter months was met not with compassion, but with hatred,” the association stated.

The Jammu Kashmir Students Association has urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to intervene immediately, ensure the registration of a strict FIR, and direct authorities to book all those involved under relevant sections of law. The association also demanded adequate security for Kashmiri traders and labourers working in the state.