In an unexpected twist, the open threat in a video by a right-wing activist leader to Kashmiri Muslim students in the Uttarakhand state prompted the state police to act rashly. Lalit Sharma, so-called chief of the Hindu Raksha Dal, is now facing criminal charges after issuing the threat openly to drive out the Kashmiris from the state during the recent terror attack at Pahalgam.

The FIR was filed under some stringent provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the Patel Nagar Police Station against Sharma's act for attempting to instigate communal enmity, criminal intimidation, and enmity with intent to cause disturbance of peace.

"If We Find Any Kashmiri, We Will Teach Them a Lesson"

"From 10 am, cadres of Hindu Raksha Dal will step out of their houses and if we spot even one Kashmiri anywhere, we will give him a lesson."

This public threat to the lives of students frightened Kashmiri students who resided anywhere in Dehradun and other counties. Despite the quick reaction by the security guards, the destruction by the time threat video already had been done — dozens of students at once packed their belongings and rushing back home frightened for their lives.

At least 25 objectionable posts were removed from social media by the police since and an operation has been initiated through their Social Media Monitoring Cell. "Strict action will be taken if anyone ever uploads such a message again," SSP Ajai Singh vowed.

The Exodus of Innocents

Uttarakhand welcomed Jammu & Kashmir students with horror and despair tales. Delhi Airport was one such location from where a 21-year-old pharmacy student of Alpine Group of Institutes, Haryana, telephoned to inform “We did not sleep last night due to the threat video going viral on social media. Our parents kept ringing us. We placed calls to the college administration security, but we could not be guaranteed. We then decided to go ahead to Kashmir.”

One student, a Kashmiri from Kulgam district, told us how they had stayed up the entire night due to a transport shortage and growing fear. ” They also sent a threatening video this morning. We knew that we had to leave immediately at that point," the victimized student remembered.

Some of them had papers to write within a month - a strategy undermined by the last-minute mass exodus. Not only their absence from the university an intellectual loss; it's a nation shame.

The State Responds: "We Will Protect All”

As a bid to calm the spreading fear, Uttarakhand ADG (Intelligence) AP Anshuman also endorsed the government's firm stance. "We have warned and taken extra security measures. We will give security to all the students from Kashmir in Uttarakhand."

This promise was given by various institutions, but the majority of the students had already fled even prior to such promises being brought onto the soil. Doon Group of Colleges admission coordinator Mohsin Abbas talked to us and informed that 20 Kashmiri students had already fled different campuses.

Zero Tolerance towards Hate

India, the country of oneness in diversity, never saw the terror attacks. But, if the terror in India is retaliated with the help of foreign soldiers in the valley, country innocent nationals or national students' injustice cannot be done.

Nasir Khuehami, the activist of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, denounced the threats. "Hindu Raksha Dal has come on record threatening to identify and physically attack Kashmiri Muslim students in Uttarakhand… the authorities must crack down hard against such elements on the margins."

India Must Not Break Up from Within

The Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent people were killed was a senseless border terror. The attempt to lay it at the doorstep of the innocent Kashmiri youth defending for improved studies in the Indian cities, although not mere evidence of misplaced common sense at best, is indeed counter to the grain of the Indian democracy.

The enemy is fear — but not the crowds. The challenge is to build a sense of unity, and not plant seeds of suspicion.