Kashmiri students forced to flee Dehradun following Pulwama attack

More than 150 Kashmiri students studying in various educational institutes of Dehradun have been forced to flee the Doon valley due to sustained attacks and harassment by right wing activists of RSS and BJP following the Pulwama attack on February 14.

Meanwhile, a kashmiri student namely Keshar Rashid studying in Subharti College was arrested by the police for his objectionable social media comments regarding the Pulwama attack. He was suspended by the college following uproar by right wing groups who descended on the college to demand his expulsion. On a complaint lodged by a local Rakesh Kumar Bhatia, he was arrested by Dehradun police under section 505(2) of the IPC and sent to jail.

The right wing group members also led women of the Premnagar area to ghereo a girls hostel where twenty kashmiri girl students are staying. The locals charged that the girls raised pro-Pakistan slogans while they were taking out a candle light march in memory of Pulwama martyrs. The Kashmiri girls shut themselves in their hostel as a volatile mob demanded action against them. The police had a tough time in tackling the situation. The Kashmiri girls vehemently denied raising any slogans but to no avail. They were forced to apologize to the local women.

Another female students hailing from Alpine Institute was suspended by her college for sympathizing with a slain militant who was earlier a student of the college. Another Kashmiri student was rusticated by Dev Bhoomi Institute for alleged indiscipline.

The RSS and Bajrang Dal had given an ultimatum to the Kashmiri students to leave Dehradun within 24 hours. Some of the Kashmiri students were also beaten up by Bajrang Dal activists on Friday. “ We do not want any anti-national activity in Dehradun as some of the Kashmiri students staying here had joined militancy and were killed by security forces,” said Vikas Verma, district convenor of of Bajrang Dal.

“The Kashmiri students are living in perpetual fear following the Pulwama incidents and harassment by right wing activists. The police is giving us protection but the situation is bad,” claimed Nasir Kheuhami, a spokesperson of the J&K Students Organisation on telephone from Kashmir. He said that nearly 150 students have fled to Chandigarh where a helpline is started by fellow Kashmiri students.  He further said that even some landlords have turned out Kashmiri students and some were persuaded by the police from doing so.

Meanwhile, a case was also registered under section 153, 5050 of IPC against another Kashmiri student namely Rauf Ahmed for his objectionable social media post on Pulwama attack at Civil Lines, Kotwali area of Roorkee in Haridwar district. The right wing activists had gheraoed the  Gangnahar Police station demanded action against the student for his post. A vegetable seller Mohd. Khushnud was also arrested from Bhimtal-Nainital area for his objectionable social media post. A juvenile 15 year old boy belonging to the minority community was also sent to juvenile correctional facility after being produced before a juvenile court following his objectionable social media post at Almora.

On the other hand, Dehradun police has requested the general public to refrain from believing rumors and remain peaceful.