Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6: Pradesh Congress, Chamber of Commerce and Industries Jammu and others strongly condemned the incident of attacks on non-Kashmiri NIT students and brutal lathi-charge on them by police and demanded that Government should ensure the safety and security of non-local students.
Addressing joint press conference here today senior PCC leaders Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla, GM Saroori and Ravinder Sharma demanded a probe into the whole matter by the sitting High Court judge in time bound manner. They said that after Hyderabad and JNU Delhi this unfortunate incident has taken place in this prestigious institute. Some people were playing dirty politics in the Educational Institutions and have made them the battle fields.
They alleged that Government has failed to ensure safety of the non-local students. The J&K is already very sensitive State and its repercussions can have dangerous ramifications. Modi Government must realize this fact. They described it as conspiracy to create wedge in the society and warned such elements not to play with the fire. They also demanded that peace be returned in the campus and sense of security be restored among the non-local students.
They further said that a fact finding delegation of Congress will also visit NIT Srinagar shortly. The State unit is keeping close watch on the situation and is also in touch with the Central leadership over the situation there.
While condemning the incident of brutal lathi-charge on non-local students at NIT Srinagar and attack on them by some local students and some outsiders besides harassment by the faculty members, the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry demanded that Government should ensure the security of the non-local students there.
Talking to media-persons here today, CCI Jammu president Rakesh Gupta said that it is most unfortunate that the non-Kashmiri students were being targeted and harassed in Srinagar. He demanded that CRPF deployment be made permanent in the wake of situation at NIT and also to prevent any such incident in future.
The Chamber questioned the entry of Police inside the campus and classrooms of NIT and demanded suspension of Police officers present at that time and also demanded that the police personnel who entered the class rooms to beat up the students which also include some handicapped students, be suspended with immediate effect.
The Chamber also condemned the statement made by one of the ministers from Jammu that it was just a `light lathi- charge’ as the injuries inflicted on the students are a testimony that it was a very brutal lathi charge. The Chamber also condemned the threats made by some faculty members in NIT and appealed to the Union HRD Ministry to sack them with immediate effect. He said the parents of many students are deeply shocked and worried for the safety of their children studying at NIT Srinagar.
Meanwhile, hitting out at PDP-BJP Coalition Govt, for the police lathi-charge on the non-local students in NIT Kashmir, a body representing Kashmiri Pandits today said it’s an “eye-opener” for the Centre and demanded assurance from the Prime Minister on safety of the students in the Valley.
All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (AP-MCC) will send a delegation to Srinagar to support and instill confidence among the non-Kashmiri NIT students, APMCC chairman, Vinod Pandit said here today.
“We demand intervention and reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the safety and security of the non-Kashmiri students studying in NIT Srinagar following use of the brute force by the police,” he said.
He said that besides the APMCC leadership, leaders representing the community including will go to Kashmir to meet the students.
State VHP patron Leela Karan Sharma also strongly condemned the brutal attack on students of NIT Srinagar by J&K Police. He said it is unheard of in history of independent India, when any State police unit has ever attacked, lathi-charged students chanting Nationalistic slogans. Vishav Hindu Parishad demanded immediate withdrawal of J&K Police from NIT Campus and deployment of Para-military forces there to ensure safety and security of students.
It is quite disturbing to learn that outside State students at NIT Srinagar are virtually kept as prisoners and are not allowed to meet anybody after yesterday’s incident happened when students were trying to meet national media.
He also expressed strong concern over the incident of burning of National Flag at Govt Dental College, Jammu a few days ago wherein one miscreant Medico was arrested. He demanded immediate rustication of Medico involved in flag burning incident at Jammu and rustication and arrest of miscreants at NIT Srinagar involved in threatening students from other states studying in Srinagar.
VHP leader also demanded immediate lodging of FIR and arrest of all the J&K police personnel involved in yesterday’s lathicharge over students in the campus. He warned a nationwide repercussion in case the adequate steps to restore the honour of students are not taken.
Meanwhile, Jammu Province People’s Forum (JPPF), an amalgam of over 50 various social, commercial and other organizations, has strongly criticized the State Government for provoking anti-national activities in NIT Srinagar by hurting sentiments of nationalist forces.
While addressing a press conference here today, JPPF working president MS Katoch alleged that the Government was hell bent to destroy the peace and communal harmony in the State.
Strongly condemning brutal lathicharge on the non-local students in NIT Srinagar by police, Katoch demanded foolproof security and protection for non-local students in the NIT campus.
Meanwhile, JPPF unanimously decided to observe complete bandh in Jammu on April 7 and appealed to all Jammuites to make the call a success.
Taking a very strong and serious note on the mis-happenings and use of violence in NIT campus in Srinagar, Chief Spokesperson of State Bharatiya Janata Party Sunil Sethi has called upon the State Government to take effective and strong action against all persons including police officials involved to instill confidence in campus students in NIT who have from outside the State to study in the prestigious institution.
He further said the raising national flag and national slogans are matter of pride and state has to facilitate activities which propagate nationalism and action should be taken against all such elements who are indulging in anti national activities. Sethi added that there should be total ban on sale and possession of Pakistani Flags in the State with penal consequences to stop the politics of hatred in the state.
BJP MP from Jammu Jugal Kishore has also condemned the brutal lathi-charge on the non-local students at NIT Srinagar and blamed Kashmir police for the atrocity on them. He said those involved in the act should not be speared.
Shiv Sena Bala Sahib Thackery lambasted NDA Government for not giving proper security cover to Hindu students studying at NIT Srinagar. Addressing media persons Dimpy Kohli, President, Shiv Sena Bala Sahib Thackery alongwith vice president Sandeep Bhagat, Rajan Gupta and Raj Singh calls for peaceful Jammu bandh tomorrow. He also made a strong appeal to all traders and other organizations to observe bandh tomorrow in support of NIT students.
Expressing serious concern over the unrest that has been witnessed for the last few days at NIT campus in Srinagar, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has urged the students of the Institution and the administration to resolve the issues amicably.
Seeking dismissal of police personnel indulging in lathi-charge on non-local students in NIT Srinagar, State president, Shri Ram Sena, Rajiv Mahajan announced Jammu bandh tomorrow. He urged Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to intervene in this matter immediately and take stern action against the culprits.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) held a meeting under the chairmanship of its chief Kundan Kashmiri and slammed anti-national activities at NIT Srinagar and at Dental College, Jammu. The participants demanded stern action against the anti-nationals, safety and security of non-Kashmiri students studying in NIT Srinagar.
Terming NIT incident as unfortunate, Nadeem Sharief Niaz, Secretary Publicity, Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee has said that Government is completely responsible for making the incident complicated. Lathicharge on students in NIT campus is highly condemnable and such kind of brutal act should be stopped immediately by State and Central Government, he added.
Students’ leader of National Students Union of India (NSUI) Jammu & Kashmir Prakash Singh Dadwal strongly condemned the brutal assault on non-Kashmiri students at NIT Srinagar. He demanded hoisting of Indian National Tricolor at NIT Campus.
Member National Council BJP and president Srinagar Kashmir Fayaz Ahmad Bhat expressed shock the way NIT is being politicized. He said non-local NIT students have not committed any crime if they have hoisted National flag and demand its permanent installation. Tricolor flag is honor of all Kashmir as well and thousands have sacrificed their lives for its honor, he said, adding that both locals and non-locals should remain in friendly manner.
General Secretary of KP Sabha SL Bagati expressed concern over the NIT episode and appealed to Union Home Ministry to deal with the situation tactfully.
All State Kashmiri Pandit conference held a meeting under the chairmanship of its President Ravinder Raina and condemned police atrocities on non-Kashmiri students in NIT Srinagar.
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