An 18-year-old Kashmiri boy selling shawls with his family in the Vikas Nagar area of Uttarakhand was brutally assaulted by a group of people on Tuesday evening, leaving him with a fractured arm and serious head injuries.

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), the boy was first questioned about his identity. The situation escalated after the attackers learned that the family belonged to the Muslim community and was from Kashmir.

“The boy was beaten mercilessly, struck with iron rods and punched repeatedly. Other family members were also dragged, slapped and attacked,” the association said in a statement.

The victim was initially taken to a local hospital and later referred to Doon Hospital in Dehradun due to the severity of his injuries. Blood was reportedly oozing from his head following the assault, and multiple bruises were visible on his body.

The JKSA termed the incident a case of communal profiling and mob violence against vulnerable families trying to earn a livelihood during the winter months.

The association urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to intervene, ensure the registration of a strict FIR and book all the culprits under relevant sections of law.

“This case must be pursued seriously to set a clear precedent against such acts of hate and violence,” the statement said.—(FPK)