Kashmir Digits

Three Kashmiri traders were attacked in Ranchi, Jharkand allegedly forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and “Pakistan murdabad” by a group of people.

The police have arrested three suspects in the case. The officers said that this was the second such incident against Kashmiri traders in two weeks in Ranchi.

“We have formed a team to investigate why two similar incidents have occurred against Kashmiri people in the city,” said Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Surendra Jha.

The three suspects were arrested based on a complaint by Rizwan Ahmad Wani, who sells winter clothing in Ranchi, The Indian Express reported.

According to his complaint, a group of 25 persons gathered around him and his two friends – who are also Kashmiri – when they were on their way to Ranchi’s Hamru area. The group of miscreants allegedly asked them to shout “Jai Shri Ram” and “Pakistan murdabad”.

“I was attacked on my head by a rod,” Wani said, “I was wearing a helmet and it broke into pieces. My friends were wounded, too, and my bike was damaged. The mob also looted our belongings.”

Ranchi’s Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabhat Ranjan said that the allegations about the slogans are yet to be established, according to the Hindustan Times. Nonetheless, he added that the police were identifying Kashmiri traders in Ranchi so that the officers could provide them with better security.