Jammu/Srinagar, Feb 18
Kashmiri students who are staying in Mohali on Monday said they felt relieved by the assurance given by Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh regarding their security.
“We are staying inside our hostels and rented accommodation,” students studying in Mohali said.
A student said there were several gurdwaras in the vicinity which made them feel safe. “Also, our landlords are nice people so we do not feel threatened,” he said.
The students said the situation was calm but tension prevailed due to reports from other states, where Kashmiri students were harassed.
Another student in Mohali said “lots of Kashmiri students” from Dehradun had arrived in Mohali and were staying at gurdwaras. —TNS
Cops to escort Kashmiri students on way home, says Mohali DC
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service
Mohali, February 18
Kashmiri students, who want to return home, will be sent to the Punjab-Jammu border under police cover.
An assurance in this regard was given to a two-member delegation of Kashmiri students by the Mohali administration here today.
Confirming the development, Mohali Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra said a police team would be sent with the Kashmiri students who wanted to return home.
“Directions in this regard have been issued to the local police. The police team would accompany the students in their vehicle up to the Punjab-Jammu border,” said Sapra.
She said around 30 students, who had arrived here from other states post-Pulwama terror attack, wanted to go home as soon as possible.
“Though the youngsters have several apprehensions for obvious reasons, we assured them of full support and assistance of any kind,” said Sapra.
Earlier today, a two-member delegation, including the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, Khwaja Itrat, met the Deputy Commissioner with certain concerns.
Around 125 Kashmiri students have been putting up at different locations here. Nearly 50 students from Jammu and Kashmir have been staying at Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan where four rooms have been allotted to them. The gurdwara management is also providing food to the students. Sapra said though there was no need to panic, the local administration was concerned about their safety and well-being.
City-Srinagar airfare jumps
Post-Pulwama terror attack, the airfare from Chandigarh to Srinagar has witnessed a substantial rise, especially in the past couple of days. The airfare has crossed the figure of Rs 25,000. Several Kashmiri students were planning to book flights to return home, but due to the high airfare, they had to postpone their programme. “We are looking for other safe options,” said one of the students.
Gurdwara, NGO come to students’ rescue
Amarjot Kaur
Tribune News Service
Mohali, February 18
More than 40 Kashmiri students took refuge at Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sohana, here on Monday. While the gurdwara authorities allotted four rooms to the students, Khalsa Aid, an international non-profit aid and relief organisation, made arrangements for their commute to Jammu.
Heaving a sigh of temporary relief, mainly on the Mohali DC’s word of assurance about their safety, the Jammu and Kashmir Student Organisation has mobilised over 160 students from Mullana in Ambala and Dehradun to Jammu. While boys are putting up at the gurdwara, about 10 girls have been allotted a room in an undisclosed residential area in Mohali.
The students, who arrived here from Dehradun, shared terrifying tales of ostracism by the locals and how they were locked up in their rooms for two long days.
“Some 200 Kashmiri students study at the BIFT Group of Institutes in Dehradun. We were locked up in our rooms, fearing the protesters who raised slogans against Kashmiris and reached here famished,” said a 24-year-old Muzamil Ahmad. His friend, Shahid Sultan, 27, claimed that the atmosphere of animosity enveloped the university campus on the day of attack.
He said: “Some landlords were very helpful, but in some cases they weren’t. A group of friends were kicked out by their landlords. We condemn the attack too, but how are we responsible for it? Why are we, as innocent students, being subjected to this backlash?”
While the students have been demanding the government to decrease the airfare, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. In this crucial moment, the volunteers of Khalsa Aid are ensuring that the students are dropped to Jammu safely.
“We have provided the students with three tempos for Jammu and two buses for students coming from Uttarakhand. We stand for humanity. No other organisation has come for their help so far,” said Amarpreet, a volunteer with Khalsa Aid. Meanwhile, a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Student Organisation said he had a word with the Mohali DC. “We were assured protection, but the maximum relief we sought was from the gurdwara authorities and Khalsa Aid,” a student said.