Parents and friends of some students, studying at the National Institute of Technology (NIT)-Srinagar, on Sunday staged a protest at Jantar Mantar against police lathicharge on students on the institurte’s campus.
Expressing fear and anxiety for their dear ones ‘caught-up’ in Kasmir, they demanded that the students should be sent back to their respective hometowns and the exam, which is scheduled to begin from the coming week be postponed. They also demanded HRD Minister Smriti Irani to look into the matter.
“The exam should be postponed and it must not start before the situation on campus is normalised,” said Manorma Devi, whose son Ajay Sengar (name changed on request) is a student at NIT-Srinagar.
“Innocent students are being beaten by the police and threatened by faculty members of holding their degree and failing them in exam. This is sheer injustice. We demand that the Human Resource and Development Minister should interfere in the matter and ensuring justice,” Devi added.
“Last night, I spoke to my son Ajit, who is perusing his B.Tech from NIT-Srinagar. The moment he heard my voice, he broke down. He narrated the tension on campus and that he and his friends feared for their lives. This is heart-wrenching,” said Kamlesh.
Around 50 parents from different parts of the Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) were present at the protest ground.
Another guardian Vinita Gautam said: “The appointment of faculty members at the NIT should be balanced as the current situation gives priority to J&K, which is not justifiable.”
She added: “Students are unsafe and tensed. Thye are worried about their future and career. They are receiving threats that they would be failed in exams and even death threats. The government should take appropriate action for the safety and security of the students, especially those from outside J&K.”