Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, expressing concern over the alleged assault on a young Kashmiri shawl seller in Dehradun and urging strict action against those responsible.

The incident involved an 18-year-old youth from Kashmir, who reportedly suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a group of people while selling shawls in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun district on Wednesday. The attack has triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of Kashmiri traders working in other parts of the country.

According to the Office of the J&K Chief Minister, Abdullah raised the issue directly with Dhami and sought immediate legal action. The Uttarakhand chief minister assured that a First Information Report (FIR) would be registered and that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the safety of people from Jammu and Kashmir living and working in the state.

Reacting to the incident on social media, Abdullah said a recent pattern of attacks on Kashmiri traders in different states was “unacceptable” and needed to stop. He stressed that people from Jammu and Kashmir should not have to live in fear while earning their livelihood in other parts of the country. He added that his government would intervene wherever needed and urged the Union Home Ministry to sensitise states on the issue.

The assault also drew sharp reactions from political leaders and civil society groups. CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami expressed anguish over the attack, calling it part of a disturbing trend targeting Kashmiri traders.

"Another young Kashmiri shawl seller has been brutally attacked in Uttarakhand. These traders travel across India to earn an honest livelihood, yet repeated assaults reveal a disturbing pattern that demands urgent action and accountability," Tarigami said in a post on X.

National Convenor of J&K Student Association Nasir Khuehami claimed that the victim was first questioned about his identity and "after learning that the family belonged to the Muslim community and hailed from Kashmir, the attackers turned violent."

"Other family members were allegedly dragged, slapped and assaulted during the incident," Khuehami alleged.

The association urged Dhami to issue directions to the district police and ensure confidence-building measures to reassure vulnerable communities that the rule of law will prevail over mob prejudice.