A disturbing trend of sexualized hate against Kashmiri women has resurfaced on social media platforms.
Following the Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the killing of 25 tourists and a local pony operator, social media handles affiliated to the Hindu right-wing used the online platforms to spread hate and call for rape and sexual violence against Kashmiri Muslim women.
A Twitter user, Ben Dover, posted a tweet that initially seemed like an offer of help to Kashmiri women feeling threatened in Delhi.
“Any Kashmiri girl feeling threatened in Delhi can come to my house at night. You will be safe and well hosted. A divided India will lose; a united India will win and thrive.”
However, his subsequent tweets took a dark and sinister turn.
In a follow-up post, the user wrote: “But I can’t guarantee if she will be alive after spending a night with me.”
He responded to comments asking if he would provide the same ‘protection’ for Kashmiri Hindu women he replied, "Hijabis are my priority."
This tweet sparked a wave of similar posts from other users, including Ashutosh Kunwar and Luc, who made vile and sexually explicit remarks.
Another user named Ashutosh Kunwar wrote, “For Noida, come to my house… DM for address.”
The tweets were met with outrage and condemnation from many users, who called for police action against the perpetrators.
Unfortunately, despite the calls for action, nothing seems to have changed, and the hatred continues. Kashmiri people have reported incidents of harassment, assault, and threats, both online and offline. Many have been forced to return home due to fear for their safety.
Offline Harassment Across India
Nida, a 22-year-old radiology student from Kashmir living in Chandigarh, is afraid to leave her rented room after her friend was attacked by strangers who shouted, "You Kashmiris are the ones responsible for attacks like the one in Pahalgam; you support them." This incident has left Nida feeling like a prisoner in her own home, fearing the same backlash.
During a phone conversation, Nida recounted how her friend was travelling to the airport on Thursday morning when strangers stopped her and pulled her out of her cab, causing a bruise. "We are stuck. We can’t go outside, and we can’t go home. Even booking a cab to the airport feels like risking our lives," Nida said, her voice breaking. "I feel like a prisoner here, just because I’m Kashmiri, just because I’m Muslim. This flat that was once my home feels like a cage now."
Unfortunately, Nida's experience is not an isolated incident. In the wake of a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmiris living in several northern states, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, have faced reprisals, fueled by right-wing groups and hatred on social media.
Threats and Harassment
In Uttarakhand, members of the Hindu Raksha Dal, a vigilante group, threatened Kashmiri Muslim students in Dehradun, demanding they leave the state "or face consequences". Suvendu Adhikari, head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal, even tweeted the address of two supposed Kashmiris, wrongly accusing them of suspicious activity.
This isn't the first time Kashmiris have faced such backlash. Six years ago, after a deadly terrorist attack in Pulwama, Kashmiris nationwide faced harassment, eviction threats, and physical assault. Many were branded traitors and terrorists.
A Pattern of Violence and Discrimination
The Pulwama attack led to a stunning victory for the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 general election. Three months later, the Modi government rescinded Jammu and Kashmir's semi-autonomous status, demoting it to a union territory under direct central government control. Modi claimed this would bring peace, investments, and economic prosperity to the conflict-ridden region.
However, for Kashmiris like Nida, the reality is far from peaceful. They continue to face harassment, threats, and violence, simply because of their identity.
"I still remember the suffocating fear after Pulwama in 2019," said Kausar Ali, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. "I hid in my room for a week, too afraid to step out. Now, it's happening again. We Kashmiris are either invisible or accused. There's no middle ground."
Kausar's words resonate the sentiments of many Kashmiri students living in Delhi and other parts of India. They feel targeted, isolated, and vulnerable to backlash after every terrorist attack.
A Pattern of Fear and Exclusion
In 2019, the Pulwama attack led to a wave of harassment and threats against Kashmiris across India. Many were forced to hide, while others were evicted from their homes or lost their jobs.
Now, after the recent attack in Pahalgam, Kashmiris are once again facing a similar backlash. Social media is filled with hate speech and accusations, with many calling for Kashmiris to be boycotted or expelled from schools and workplaces.
For Kausar and his fellow Kashmiri students, the constant fear and uncertainty are taking a toll on their mental health and well-being.
"We're not just students; we're human beings," Kausar said. "We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not judged based on our identity or where we come from."
Forgotten and Overlooked
As the days go by, Kausar feels like She's being forgotten. "At first, everyone was talking about us, but now no one is. It's like we've become invisible again. The government, the media, everyone has moved on to the next big story. We're just left to deal with the consequences of the actions of the hatemongers."
Kausar's words are a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by Kashmiris in India. Despite the initial outpouring of support, they often find themselves forgotten and overlooked, left to navigate a complex web of fear, uncertainty, and exclusion.
In the midst of growing tensions, Kashmiri students across India found themselves continuously facing a wave of intimidation, threats, and isolation. However, amidst the mess, a sense of solidarity and resilience emerged. Nasir Khuehami, the national convenor of the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), revealed that his organization received an overwhelming 800 to 900 calls daily from students in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu, seeking assistance and support.
This is not the first time such incidents have occurred. In 2019, Hindu right-wing leaders made controversial remarks following the abrogation of Article 370, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The pattern of hate and violence against Kashmiris seems to be repeating itself, with no action taken against the perpetrators.
The online harassment and threats have also translated to physical assaults in different states of India. Reports of harassment have emerged from Punjab, Dehradun, and Jalandhar, leaving Kashmiri students and workers feeling scared and unsafe. Many have been forced to leave their rented rooms or rush to airports to return home quickly.
The situation highlights the need for authorities to take strict action against those spreading hate and violence online and offline. It's essential to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, particularly those who are vulnerable to targeted attacks.
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