Srinagar, June 30: The thrashing of Kashmiri students by ‘hooligans’ in northern state of Haryana on  Friday night has triggered panic among  the Valleyties undergoing studies at several  educational institutions there.
 Students undergoing engineering courses at Swami Devi Dayal College of Engineering and Technology (Professional) at Golpura Barwalla in Haryana told Greater Kashmir over phone that a group of the local youth and hooligans, without any provocation, roughed up them mercilessly last night in the college hostel.
 “Last night at around 10:30 pm, we were studying in two hostel rooms and suddenly the hooligans bolted one room where five students were sitting and then barged into another room, where two others were studying. Without asking for anything, they started abusing and harassing us,” said a student Nazir Ahmed (name changed).
  “And they went on beating us and Nazar Muhammad of Dailgam Islamabad (Anantnag) fell unconscious after he was hit with a rod. His colleague Muntazir Ahmed Bhat tried to save him but he was also assaulted and he received six stitches in leg,” Mudasir said.
 “Another student, Amir Majid, who was unaware of the attack and was on way to his hostel was caught by hooligans and beaten up mercilessly,” he added.
 “Why do you people come here? This is not Kashmir it is India. You are terrorists we will teach you a lesson,” students quoted assailants as having said.
 According to Kashmiri students, the attack was pre-planned and the security guards, entrusted  with security of college and students , arrived late on the scene.
 “We took the injured to the college hospital, but the paramedics, on duty there, refused to provide first aid to them saying that it is a police case. As suggested by the paramedical staff, we rang up the police, but we were shocked by the attitude of the cops. Instead of  nabbing culprits, they hurled  abuses on us and threatened us of dire consequences if we lodged an  FIR,” they said.
 “Even, they bundled two of our injured colleagues in Police Gypsy and we left only after we pleaded with them like beggars,” they said.
 “We are living under constant fear and pressure and we appeal JK Kashmir Government to intervene,” the students added.
 When contacted, Police Commissioner (Panchkula- Ambala range) K K Sharma said that the matter is non-cognizable. “There was a fight between two groups of students and nothing else,” Sharma said, adding that Director General of Jammu & Kashmir Police had also spoken to him over the incident.
 Meanwhile, the act has triggered strong resentment in Valley, with Member Parliament from South Kashmir Dr Mehboob Beg saying that he will write to Union Home P. Chidambram to ensure safety of Kashmiri students and businessmen  outside the state.
 “I am writing a letter to Home Minister over the matter,” Beg said, adding that these incidents only increase alienation among the Kashmiris.
COLLEGE AUTHORITIES SPEAK
 Meanwhile, the management of Swami Devi Dayal College of Engineering and Technology (Professional) rebutted the allegations and said that the issue was being blow out of the  proportion by rival colleges.
 “Students were not beaten up by hooligans and actually there was heated exchange of words between a few students yesterday in the college mess,” Amit Jindal, general secretary of Swami Devi Dayal Group of Professional institutions told Greater Kashmir.
 Amit said that they have handed over the names of students to police, who had misbehaved with Kashmiri students. “There has been no such incident in the past in our college,” Amit said. “ We will take stern action against the culprits and we have assured the Kashmiri students that they will be provided the security.”
  Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has strongly condemned the harassment of Kashmiri students in Haryana.
 “GOI should ensure the security of Kashmiris studying outside Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST