Dehradun, Feb. 1 -- Segregationist politics seems to be seeping down to the grassroots in Uttarakhand, resulting in easily triggered incidents of street violence. The social environment seems to have become so inflammatory that even ordinary differences of opinion escalate rapidly to physical assaults. The Angel Chakma case and the recent attack upon a Kashmiri shawl vendor are examples of this. Uttarakhand has for long prided itself in being a more sophisticated society but certain factors are creating a dissonance in its ethos. As a pilgrimage and tourism destination, its people have been quite used to dealing with visitors in a professional and courteous manner. However, they are often having to respond to a new breed of visitors who are...