"But a spate of hate attacks faced by the shawl sellers in recent weeks has forced them to rethink and strategise what was once a common, winter-time sight across Indian cities: Kashmiris lugging large wraps holding shawls and other wares. Ahmad now runs a WhatsApp group in which nearly two dozen members share information as they guide each other on areas to avoid."
"Ahmad formed the WhatsApp group late last month after a Hindu shopkeeper in northern India's Uttarakhand state hit Tabish Ahmad Ganie, an 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl seller, with an iron rod. This is a Hindu village. Kashmiri Muslims won't work here at all, the shopkeeper was heard shouting in a viral video of the attack, which left Ganie unconscious, while his elder brother Danish, who was also attacked, suffered minor injuries."
"Others are devising survival strategies, such as WhatsApp groups where they alert each other about places to avoid. Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir Ayaz Ahmad stares at his screen, fingers moving rapidly as he types in a group chat on his mobile phone. Ahmad, 28, goes around houses in Hisar, a city in northern India's Haryana state, selling shawls and other handicraft items like thousands of other itinerant traders from Indian-administered Kashmir, who crisscross the country on foot or bicycles."
A surge in attacks has forced many Kashmiris to return home. Others are devising survival strategies, such as forming WhatsApp groups to alert each other about places to avoid. Itinerant shawl sellers from Indian-administered Kashmir travel across India on foot or by bicycle selling handicrafts. Recent hate attacks have made safety the priority over business. Organisers share guidance on safe areas and routes. A violent incident in Uttarakhand left an 18-year-old seller unconscious and badly injured after being hit with an iron rod, while a shopkeeper in the video proclaimed Kashmiri Muslims should not work there. Injured sellers have required stitches and suffered fractures.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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