HRD team at NIT; Rajnath assures security, BJP condemns use of force

Srinagar

With tension prevailing at the NIT here, a two-member team from the Union HRD ministry today held consultation with officials of the engineering institute even as outstation students put forth five demands including action against staff involved in “anti-national” activities.

“The two-member team from the HRD ministry has arrived and is holding consultations with NIT officials,” an official of the NIT told PTI.

A senior official said the HRD team which included Sanjeev Sharma, Director (Technical Education) in the HRD ministry and Deputy Director Finance Fazal Mehmood will also interact with the students of the institute to take stock of the situation.

“The mandate is to build confidence amongst students and assure them about their safety,” the official said.

As the HRD team arrived here, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the matter needs “tactful handling” and the state government should look into it “without back seat drivers”.

“Rushing in a team from HRD ministry coupled with the CRPF replacing J&K police speaks volumes about Delhi’s confidence in Mehbooba Mufti,” Omar wrote on Twitter

On Friday last, the campus had witnessed clashes between local and outstation students over India’s defeat in the semi-final match in the World T20 tournament.

After the clashes, the NIT authorities had shut down the institute which was reopened yesterday.

Unrest was witnessed again yesterday at the campus, with outstation students expressing a sense of insecurity and attempting to leave the campus, leading to a confrontation with police which resorted to lathicharge in which some were injured.

In a letter to the management of NIT Srinagar dated April 4, the outstation students have listed five demands that, they feel, would enable them to peacefully reside at the campus and concentrate on their studies.

“Due to the anti-national activities rising in campus premises, students not local to Srinagar have faced serious problems as well as life threats. Due to the cold situation here, students are eager to reach their homes,” the letter said.

“National Flag should be hoisted at main gate/fountain (The state flag may be hoisted as well),” the students demanded.

Rajnath assures security to students in NIT Srinagar

New Delhi

As tension mounted at the NIT Srinagar campus, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today assured proper security to students studying at the central institute saying there would be no harm to them.

He said he has already spoken to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on the prevailing situation at the National Institute of Technology and she has assured that all students will be safe there.

“There will be no problem. I appeal to all students of NIT that they should remain assured that there will be no harm to them,” he told reporters.

Singh said Mehbooba has already apprised him about the situation and said all necessary instructions have been given for the security of students.

“She (Mehbooba) assured that all students will be safe.

She said an inquiry will be conducted to find out how the incident happened and also fix responsibility,” he said.

The Home Minister said security personnel have been deployed at the engineering institute after the tension there.

“I have also spoken to the Secretary in the HRD Ministry yesterday and I told him to send two director-level officers to NIT Srinagar so that they can talk to the students and instill confidence in them and if there is any problem they should take steps. Accordingly, two officers have gone there,” he said.

Singh said HRD Minister Smriti Irani has informed him about the situation at the institute after talking to Mehbooba.

“She (Irani) also said that Mehbooba ji has assured that all students will be safe,” he said.

Tension started brewing inside the NIT campus, located on the banks of famous Dal lake, last week after India lost to West Indies in semi-final in the World T20 Cup prompting some local students to rejoice and burst crackers. This was protested by the outstation students resulting in clashes.

Since March 31 night, the situation inside the campus has been volatile and the authorities had posted paramilitary personnel. The local police was manning the main gate of the institute.

The developments prompted NIT authorities to close the campus on Saturday but reopened it on Monday. Last evening, the outstation students tried to march out of the campus saying they wanted to return to their homes.

A senior police official, who attempted to pacify them, was heckled and pushed around resulting in a lathicharge in which four students sustained injuries.

BJP condemns use of force against NIT Srinagar students

New Delhi

BJP today condemned the use of force by Jammu and Kashmir Police against NIT Srinagar students and demanded action against the “guilty” personnel.

The party’s strong reaction comes only two days after its ally and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti took oath as Chief Minister.

“We condemn the use of force. Students were lathi-charged without any provocation. These students were not causing any damage. It is very unfortunate. Immediate action should be taken against guilty policemen,” party National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

A secure environment should be created for these students, he said, noting that the Centre was in touch with the state government over the matter.

Local students and outstation students had clashed on the campus following India’s defeat at the hands of West Indies in the World T20 Cup with the former being accused of “celebrating” India’s loss.

BJP is sympathetic to the outstation students and wants the authorities to take their concerns into account, party leaders said.

Sharma also rejected criticism from Congress and AAP over the issue saying those who insult mother India and goddess Durga have no moral right to speak about it.

PTI