According to reports from Kumily, a high-range and hilly tourist centre in Idukki, Israeli tourists were humiliated by a Kashmiri Muslim shopkeeper when they entered his handicraft shop. Hayas Ahmed Rawther, the owner of Incredible India, expelled the tourists as soon as he overheard them speaking on the phone in Hebrew. When the controversy escalated, Rawther apologised to the tourists.
The incident occurred on the night of 14 November. Rawther had invited the tourists into his shop and displayed his items to them. Dover Valfar was among the tourists. While she was speaking on her mobile phone in Hebrew while selecting products, Rawther asked her which country she was from. When she said she was from Israel, Rawther switched off the lights and expelled the tourists, saying he would not sell his products to Israelis.
The humiliated Valfar immediately informed her husband and their driver. They arrived and confronted Rawther. As a result, the merchants’ association and local residents intervened, leading the Kashmiri shopkeeper to apologise to the Israelis.
The Kerala Police Special Branch and Central Investigation Agencies have begun investigations. However, the tourists have not lodged any complaints with the authorities in this regard. Following the controversy, Kashmiri shopkeepers closed their shops temporarily.
The police have not registered any cases against the accused so far. The incident has the potential to tarnish the country’s image on the international stage. T.P. Senkumar IPS, a retired State Police Chief, told the media that the actual nationalities of the so-called Kashmiri shopkeepers should be investigated. Such actions, he stated, could be expected only from individuals who lack allegiance to nationalism. Proper inquiries should be conducted to determine whether these Kashmiri shopkeepers are linked to terrorist sleeper cells.
Reports from Kumily suggest that similar incidents have occurred there in the past. The failure of the police to take action against the accused has sparked protests among locals. It is a known fact that a significant section of the Muslim community in Kerala, with the moral and physical support of the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), are supporters of Hamas terrorists. When Hamas attacked Israel, some Muslim organisations in Kerala staged protests against Israel. A senior Hamas leader even delivered an online video speech in Malappuram, yet no police action was taken against the organisers.
