Students express reservations in joining back their classes in outside colleges
Div Com says admin, police will provide all assistance to students
Srinagar: Fearing attacks and intimidations, the Kashmiri students studying in outside colleges and universities have asked the J&K government to ensure their safety while returning to their respective institutions.
The students have asked the administration to constitute a nodal agency which will coordinate with the local administrations in outside states and police in order to ensure their safety in their colleges and universities.
Earlier more than 3000 students had returned to the valley after facing intimidations and threats from the local mobs in outside states like Dehradun, Uttarakhand and Haryana. Also, around a dozen videos where Kashmiri students were beaten also came to fore. The students were threatened and harassed in wake of an attack on CRPF Convoy in Pulwama in the month of February.
“We are demanding an assurance from the state government that we won’t be harassed or beaten again in our colleges or at our rented accommodations,” said Zahid one of the students.
The parents of the students, are also apprehensive of insecurity of their wards who are enrolled in outside colleges and Universities.
“Some colleges are asking students to return to the campuses but we are demanding that divisional administration in Kashmir to ensure our safety in the colleges,” the students said, adding that the state administration should not disown them but ensure their safety,” the student’s said.
The students said their semester will start in May at some colleges while as in some institutions, new semester will commence in coming weeks due to which they have to join their classes to avoid shortage in attendance.
“The situation is tense already and the hearing on Article 35 A is ahead as well. So if anything untoward happened we will land in trouble in outside colleges,” said Musaib, another student.
However, some students have decided to stay back in Kashmir unless government takes some steps regarding their safety in outside states.
“The state government should directly take up the matter with the colleges and ensure the safety of the Kashmiri students studying outside the valley. The governor administration should facilitate the return of the students,” he said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan said the administration will take all necessary steps to ensure safe return and stay of Kashmiri students in outside state colleges and Universities.
“We have been active from the day Kashmiri students faced harassment and attacks. We have asked the college authorities and Police administration to ensure safety of our valley students,” he said.
KV Correspondent
