Kashmiri Students Report Profiling and Evictions After Delhi Blast, J&K Student Association Says
Kashmiri Students Report Profiling and Evictions After Delhi Blast, J&K Student Association Says
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Kashmiri students in northern Indian states are reportedly facing profiling, eviction, and intimidation following the November 10 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said on Monday as reported by Maktoob Media.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the incident has led to “collective suspicion” against Kashmiris, with reports emerging from universities and residential areas in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
“Students are being harassed on campuses and in neighbourhoods. Some landlords have told Kashmiri tenants to vacate immediately, and many have left for home out of fear,” Khuehami said. He warned that aggressive questioning, verification drives, and social media stereotyping could severely disrupt academic lives, adding that “social media has amplified prejudice, portraying Kashmiris as latent threats. Such collective suspicion is unjust and dangerous.”
Khuehami urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to “call off the vilification” of Kashmiri students, emphasizing that they “believe in India’s democracy and in the mainstream, not in terrorism.” He noted that while the association supports any investigation into the blast, authorities must ensure the safety of Kashmiris and prevent discrimination.
The November 10 explosion near the Red Fort metro station left 13 people dead. Authorities identified Umar Nabi, a resident of Kashmir, as the driver of the vehicle involved. Following the incident, police in Faridabad conducted checks on more than 500 individuals from Jammu and Kashmir as part of heightened security measures, according to PTI reports.
Khuehami stressed that Kashmiris “are as much a part of this country as any other citizen,” calling for fair treatment and an end to collective suspicion.
