Feeling ‘safe for now’: Students
In the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, Kashmiri students are facing the heat again, in different parts of the country. With reports coming from several parts of the country on incidents of violence and threat to Kashmiri students, the ones living in holy city say that they are “safe for now”.
“The DIG Border Range and SSP (Rural) along with their team interacted with us and assured that our safety will be their top priority. For now, we feel safe as there is no such threat to us here."
A student from Sopore
With potential threat or backlash against Kashmiri students, the city police and DIG border range reached out to those pupils studying at Global Group of Institutes, listened to their concerns and assured their safety. There are 150 students from Kashmir pursuing various undergraduate courses in pharmacy, engineering and IT at the institute.
“The DIG Border Range and SSP (Rural) along with their team interacted with us and assured that our safety will be their top priority. For now, we feel safe as there is no such threat to us here,” shared a student from Sopore, who along with others is a hosteller at the Global Group of Institutes. Among them, 50 students are female, who have been receiving calls from their families back home, with concerns about their safety. “The families back in Kashmir are a bit in panic, to be honest. But we have told them that we are safe here and do not feel that there is any need for our urgent return. Our exams are beginning next week and we want to focus on studies and not anything else right now,” shared a female student of pharmacy at the institute.
Global Group of Institutes meanwhile has hiked the campus security and asked faculty to be careful of any untoward incident. “The security at hostels and other campus areas has been tightened. Students have been asked to contact faculty or management in case of need. Our campus is safe and we take responsibility of our students seriously,” said Dr Manbir Kaur, faculty member of the institute.
Amritsar, Jalandhar and Chandigarh are a preferred destinations to pursue higher education for students from the troubled UT because these cities are considered safe. The Jammu and Kashmir Government has also established multiple helpline numbers for Kashmiri students studying across the country in view of potential threat to them following the horrendous attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Emergency assistance is also being provided, with safe houses and shelter homes for those facing eviction by their landlords or those who wish to return to their homes.
Guru Nanak Dev University Vice Chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh said, “Instructions have been issued to all hostel wardens to keep a strict watch on the situation. All university officials have been asked to take special care of students from Kashmir and report immediately, if any untoward situation is witnessed. We have a good number of students from Kashmir. We will ensure their safety.”
Amritsar