Kashmiri students nationwide facing rising threats after Pahalgam terror attack

In the wake of the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam that left over 25 visitors and a local resident dead, the J&K Students Association has voiced grave concerns over the safety and well-being of Kashmiri students across the country.

The association claims there has been a disturbing surge in cases of harassment, abuse, and physical assaults directed at these students in several states.

“We have been receiving multiple distress calls from Kashmiri students from Dehradun. The students feel threatened and insecure in the aftermath of a video released by Hindu Rakhsha Dal, warning Kashmiri Muslim students to vacate Dehradun by 10 am today,” said Nasir Khuehami, the national convenor of the association.

Khuehami described the atmosphere as increasingly tense and alarming for Kashmiri youth studying outside the region.

In response, the association has issued a series of helpline numbers to assist students in distress.

Detailing one of the latest incidents, Khuehami reported, “We have received distress calls from Universal Group of Institutions, Derabassi, Chandigarh, where Kashmiri students were brutally attacked inside the hostel premises during the night.”

According to students, a group forcibly entered their hostel at midnight and assaulted them with sharp weapons.

“Their clothes were torn, and at least one student sustained serious injuries,” he added.

Khuehami noted that this was the seventh such case of targeted violence against Kashmiri students since the Pahalgam attack.

He also cited a case involving a Kashmiri student who was “brutally thrashed” at Amity University in Noida.

Elsewhere, reports have emerged that the Hindu Raksha Dal and affiliated groups have issued written threats to educational institutions in Dehradun, demanding the expulsion of Kashmiri Muslim students.

A viral video shows members of the group making explicit threats to identify and physically harm these students in Uttarakhand.

“Many terrified Kashmiri students from BFIT College Suduwala Dehradun have already fled towards Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun to save their lives,” Khuehami revealed.

The pattern of hostility appears to span multiple states. In Himachal Pradesh, students from Arni University in Kathghar (Indora) and Kangra have reportedly faced harassment, verbal abuse, and violent attacks.

“The Kashmiri students are being intimidated, labeled as terrorists, and coerced to vacate their accommodation under threats and violence,” Khuehami claimed.

In Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, the situation is similarly dire. “We have also received distress calls from Kashmiri students and youth studying and working in Prayagraj. Landlords are asking them to vacate immediately, citing security concerns. Some have already left under pressure,” he said.

Ummar Jamal, National President of the J&K Students Association, said that a dedicated response team has been set up to offer immediate assistance and liaise with local authorities when needed.

Reacting to these developments, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured that the J&K government is actively coordinating with the administrations of the states where such incidents have been reported.

"I’m also in touch with my counterparts, chief ministers in these states, & have requested they take extra care," he said.

The terror attack at Baisaran in Pahalgam—often referred to as ‘mini Switzerland’—has sparked widespread anger in the Valley.

In a rare occurrence, Kashmir observed a complete shutdown in protest, marking a powerful response not seen in the region’s 35-year history of militancy.