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OpiniOn




                                        Attacks on J&K students


                                        may further alienate them


                                        Most such clashes are a result of mutual suspicion with tension
           Spotlight                    simmering over a period of time. It is, therefore, important that
                                        regular counselling sessions be held with students to sensitise them
           Vipin pubby
                                                   undreds of Kashmiri stu-  to disturbed conditions prevailing in the
                                                   dents under the banner of   Valley. At times it’s the parents who force
                                                   ‘Jammu and Kashmir Stu-  their wards to move out while many stu-
           Former resident editor                  dents’ Organisation’ held   dents themselves decide to pursue their
           of The Indian Express,                  a massive protest demon-  studies in ‘peaceful’ states.
           Vipin Pubby is a senior      H stration outside a private        However, these reports had been
           journalist based in          institution in Punjab earlier this month   causing serious concern among par-
           Chandigarh. He can           to protest against assault on a Kashmiri   ents of the students studying in these
           be contacted at              student. This was the latest in a series of   states. Recently a group of parents met
           vipinpubby@gmail.            incidents of attacks on Kashmiri students  the Jammu and Kashmir Governor and
           com. The views               or clashes involving them in the recent   asked him to intervene. The Governor,
           expressed are personal       years. Such incidents have been reported  in turn, approached the union Home
                                        off and on from various educational insti- Ministry, seeking appropriate steps to
                                        tutions in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan  curb the tendency. The ministry then
                                        leading to serious concern and adverse   issued a advisory asking all states to show
                                        reactions, particularly in Kashmir.  “utmost care and sensitivity” in handling
                                           Earlier this month Ahtisham Bilal, a   Kashmiri students and to “ensure their
                                        23-year-old from Kashmir and a first year  protection”. Evidently at the directive of
                                        student of medical imaging technology   the Governor, the Jammu and Kashmir
                                        at Greater Noida’s Sharda University, was  Police also launched a round-the-clock
                                        beaten by a group of students in the Uni-  helpline for Kashmiri students pursuing
                                        versity premises. After one such incident   courses outside the state.
                                        in Haryana’s Mahendergarh town, in   Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
                                        which two students from Kashmir were   subsequently issued a statement : “I ap-
                                        allegedly thrashed by a mob, the police   peal to all states, (that) they should ensure
                                        arrested three persons even while the   the safety of all Kashmiris everywhere in
                                        state government insisted that the attack  the country. They are also equal citizens
                                        was a fall-out of a motorcycle accident.   of India.” Close observers of the scenario
                                        A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was   point out that most students who come
                                        set up to inquire into the incident but its   out to study in the neighbouring states
                                        outcome was not made public.      do so just after completing their school-
                                           Most such attacks and clashes are a   ing and are not mature enough to handle
                                        result of mutual suspicion with tension   sensitive situations. The increased use of
                                        simmering over a period of time. There   social media too plays its part in spread-
                                        have also been instances in which some   ing half truths and plain lies.
                                        youth from the Valley were attacked after   Besides there are instances like the
                                        they celebrated Pakistan’s win over India  latest one at Jalandhar where three
                                        in cricket. It is well known that due to the   students of a private institution were
                                        continued turmoil in Kashmir, a large   arrested for alleged terrorist activities.
                                        number of students move out of the state  Police had claimed that the three were
                                        to study in nearby institutions in Punjab   arrested and two weapons, including an
                                        and Haryana. Most of the educational   assault rifle and an explosive device, was
                                        institutions within Kashmir had been   seized from them. It had claimed that a
                                        remaining shut for months together due   module of Kashmiri terror outfit Ansar



                                        Tehelka / 15 november 2018  30  www.Tehelka.com



     30-31 Opinion Vipin Pubby.indd   2                                                                02/11/18   11:24 AM
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