:

Kangra, Nov 28, CNS: In a decisive move to address communal harassment, the Himachal Pradesh Police have registered a formal First Information Report (FIR) against a Block Development Council (BDC) member who allegedly harassed two Kashmiri shawl sellers in Surjanpur village of Kangra district.

Director General of Police (DGP) Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Atul Verma, confirmed the action to Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association. The FIR, numbered 86/24, has been filed under Sections 196(1) and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act against BDC member Sushmi Devi.

Notably, the legal action proceeded despite the victims’ decision to forgive the accused and request police leniency. Kangra Superintendent of Police (SP) Shalini Agnihotri stated that the state government aims to set a strong precedent to prevent future incidents of communal harassment.

Khuehami praised the proactive intervention of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, DGP Dr. Atul Verma, and the state police. “This step sends a strong message that hate and harassment will not be tolerated,” he emphasized.

Chief Minister’s Principal Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan assured the safety of Kashmiri students and laborers, stating, “They will not be harmed or harassed at any cost.”

Aadil Bhat, National Spokesperson of the Association, commended the swift action, noting that such measures restore faith among Kashmiri and minority communities. “Communal harmony is fragile, and incidents like this can have far-reaching consequences,” Bhat added, urging authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against hate-based actions.

While the accused had previously issued a formal apology, the authorities maintained that justice must be served, particularly in cases targeting marginalized communities.

(CNS)