Despite receiving hate mails for helping the strandedKashmiris who were trying to escape the vigilante mobs in various statesfollowing the Pulwama attack of February 14, Khalsa Aid International rescuedKashmiris and provided them with food and shelter.
The help from Khalsa Aid International- a UK-basedhumanitarian relief charity that provides support around the world to thevictims of natural and man-made disasters – came when Kashmiri’s where thrashedand abused in various parts of the country after over 40 CRPF men were killedin a suicide bomb attack at Lethpora area of Pulwama.
“Some students wrote on twitter about the harassment theywere facing and said that they had left their universities and were in need ofshelter and food. These students came to Punjab and took shelter in a Gurduwaraand when our team went to meet them, they said we want to go back to Kashmir,”said Amarpreet Singh – Director Asia Pacific Khalsa Aid International.
Amarpreet said, “After seeing the conditions of the studentswho were feeling completely isolated and wanted to be home, we thought toprovide them buses so that they will reach home, but the bus service fromChandigarh to Jammu was completely shut. Then we confirmed about the airtickets, but the airfares were skyrocketing, then we arranged mini buses forthem.”
Amarpreet said, “We have been able to send over 300 studentshome and 70 percent of these students were from Dehradun, and rest were fromHaryana, Ambala, YamnaNagar and other adjacent areas.”
“The Kashmiri students would call us on our help linescrying for help. They would send us emails to rescue us. Such distressing callswould disturb us and I had made this commitment that first we will send thesechildren home, and then we will enter our homes and have food,” said Amarpreet.
“There were over 13 girls with us, and they were soapprehensive about their safety that we had to, literally, do theircounselling. They didn’t want to travel in buses fearing attacks, so wearranged air tickets for them.”
Amarpreet said: “We were being trolled for beinganti-nationals. People were calling us on our help lines and abusing us forhelping Kashmiris, but we didn’t care and kept doing our work and the result ofthis was that people in Kashmir were showing love for Sikh community.”
As a token of love, Kashmiris have offered free packages,discounts and benefits for the Sikh community.
Reacting to the overwhelming gratitude shown by theKashmiris, Amarpreet said, “We don’t want people in Kashmir to send us donations,but just keep sending their love to us.”