Hyderabad is a safe home, say Kashmiri traders

HYDERABAD: A series of frantic calls from home made Nazaqat Khan, a stall owner in Numaish, realise the situation in different parts of the country where Kashmiris have been attacked after the blast in Pulwama.

“The death of over 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwama has shocked us. There have been reports of attacks on Kashmiris in parts of the country and so, my family was worried about our safety here. My mother has been calling me thrice a day. I got a series of calls from friends and relatives checking whether we are doing fine,” said Khan, who owns a Kashmiri clothing stall in Numaish.

Khan considers Hyderabad a safe city and said he was not insulted or harassed by any stall owner after reports of blast came up. “I have been putting up stalls here for the last 18 years. Never have I faced any discrimination. Even now, the situation hasn’t changed,” added Khan.

“Back home, people are scared to even step out of the houses. I was supposed to go back, but I cancelled my tickets. The situation in Hyderabad is safe. It's like home here for us Kashmiris who have set up the 500-odd stalls in Numaish,” said Bilal Ahmed Shah, from Srinagar.

“Initially, we were a little scared, but the people here are polite and helpful. They have always offered help during difficult times, including the fire a couple of weeks back,” he added.

Stall owners, however, pointed out that footfall has decreased since the blast.