Newsroom24x7 Desk

Srinagar: There is tension following last week’s clash between local and non-local students and use of brute force by the police on the protesting non-Kashmiri students inside the campus of National Institute technology (NIT) in Sinagar on Tuesday.

A two member team from the Union HRD Ministry arrived at NIT, srinagar to conduct a probe. The Union Home Ministry is also monitoring the situation.

There  is a general view that the violent lathi charge by Srinagar Police on hapless “non-Kashmiri” students who were protesting peacefully for the pride of the nation on the National Institute of Technology campus in the capital of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday should rattle the sensibilities of the citizens across India. The use of brute force by the Police against the non-local NIT students protesting to uphold the nationalist spirit acquires serious dimension as the Police action came immediately after the formation of the PDP-BJP Government in Jammu and Kashmir led by Mehbooba Mufti

There are posts on youtube demonstrating audio-visually how dozens of lathi (baton) wielding cops had chased the students. They were targeted one by one and beaten up mercilessly. Some of these students are lying in hospital with broken bones and their academic schedule has been derailed.

The non-local students of NIT at Srinagar told media that they were targeted by the Police when they came out of the campus on Tuesday evening. These students had decided to boycott their classes following a clash with Kashmiri students last Thursday, (March 31). It was triggered after the local students had burst crackers to celebrate the victory of West Indies against India in the T20 Cricket World Cup semi-final match.

The Non-Kashmirir students have alleged that they had received threats of dire consequences and were being intimidated by the kashmiri students and also some teachers and workers of the canteen on the campus after they had protested against bursing of crackers on India’s defeat in the cricket match against West Indies.

On April 1 (Friday), there was a major clash between the local and non-Kashmiri students of NIT. That day both sides shouted slogans. while the non-locals chanted Bharat Mata ki Jai (victory for Mother India), and Pakistan Murdabad (Down with Pakistan), the locals shouted “Hum kya Chahte Azadi” (what we want is freedom).

It is reported from Jammu that A group of parents of students from Jammu studying in NIT Srinagar today staged protest demanding immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of their wards. Thy carried placards and asked J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to intervene describing the matter as very serious. They have also expressed their lack of faith in the local police and demanded that central security force personnel should be posted at NIT Srinagar.

The non-local students are asking for a temple inside the NIT Srinagar campus, hoisting of tri-colour on main gate and better security.