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.