Amid threats, Valley students return home

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 18

Authorities have assured Kashmiri students in other states not to panic as steps are being taken to ensure their safety. However, many students have started returning home until the situation calms down.

Many students from Kashmir studying in Chandigarh, Haryana and Dehradun have been put up in hostels of their respective institutions under police protection after some students said they were being attacked by violent mobs.

Shahid Ahmad, a resident of north Kashmir’s Bandipora, who studies at a private university in Dehradun, said he had returned home on Monday after paying extra charges.

“We do not feel safe anymore. The Bajrang Dal has launched a full hate campaign against Kashmiri students. If something happens to us, who will be responsible,” said Ahmad.

Similarly, students from other states have also expressed fear and are returning home.

“Our families were very worried after videos of threats to Kashmiris started circulating the social media,” said Saima, a 25-year-old studying in Haryana who had returned home.

More than 200 students from the Valley are studying in different colleges of Dehradun. The students said they had been told by their college management not to return until they were informed to do so.

After the students came up with messages seeking help on social media, locals across different states have opened their homes for the students and for any Kashmiri fearing violence.