We’re Here to Study, Don’t Make Us Soft Targets: Kashmiri Students

Kashmiri students from Dehradun fear their lives and fled to Punjab, where several shelter camps have been set up.

Kashmiri students from Dehradun fear for their lives and fled to Punjab, where several shelter camps have been set up.

(Photo: The Quint)

More than hundreds of Kashmiri students have reached Punjab from Uttarakhand’s Dehradun on the way to their homes. A student body is arranging their temporary stay Chandigarh and Mohali.

Amid reports of harassment of students from the Valley in Dehradun after the Pulwama terrorist attack, these students claim that they could not even step out to eat.

“We could not get out of our rooms. We have not eaten anything in the last 4-5 days. We are surviving on tea. We were scared and were warned to vacate our houses.”

Muzair, Student

“We got scared and hid in our rooms. We hadn’t gone out of our houses. We informed the police and they helped us escape. Ninety per cent of the students have been brought here.”

Student

Some Kashmiri youths studying in the Uttarakhand capital have alleged they were harassed and asked by their landlords to vacate accommodations fearing attacks on their properties after the terrorist strike in Pulwama on Thursday, 14 February, that left 40 CRPF personnel dead.

The students could not take a flight due to expensive air fares, and hence had to travel to Punjab via Delhi.

“We have to come back because we have invested years in our education and it’s the last year. We cannot waste it. Hope the atmosphere improves and we are able to return soon.”

Student

Amid news of Kashmiri students being targeted after the Pulwama terror attack which claimed lives of at least 40 CRPF personnel on Thursday, 14 February, two Dehradun-based colleges have denied admission to students from Kashmir in the upcoming academic session, reported The Indian Express.

(With inputs from PTI, The Indian Express.)