CORRECTS – Local Hindus assault Kashmiri vendors in northern India

CORRECTS DAY OF REPORTS TO THURSDAY, ADDS WEDNESDAY AS DAY OF INCIDENT, MINOR REVISIONS THROUGHOUT</p> <p>By Shuriah Niazi</p> <p>New Delhi (AA) – Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan over Kashmir, two Kashmiri men have been assaulted by local Hindus in northern India, media reports said Thursday.</p> <p>The two men were abused, slapped and beaten with a stick apparently because of their identities in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state on Wednesday, before being rescued by locals, said a report by private broadcaster NDTV.</p> <p>A video of the incident showing several men dressed in bright orange assaulting a vendor with a stick has gone viral on social media. </p> <p>One of the alleged perpetrators remains on the run while police nabbed a second, Bajrang Sonkar, who local police said had 12 court cases against him, including one murder case.</p> <p>When asked why they were beating the men, the two alleged attackers replied that it was because they were Kashmiris, reported local media.</p> <p>Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, tweeted about the incident and demanded action.</p> <p>A total of four alleged attackers have been arrested by police, local authorities announced.</p> <p>Kashmiris have been attacked in other parts of India in the aftermath of a terror attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir in which over 40 Indian soldiers were killed.