Panic has gripped hostel boarders of various universities following advisory by government for Yatris and tourists to curtail their stay in Kashmir.
Chaos and confusion prevails in hostels of the KashmirUniversity (KU) and other educational institutions which has left students in adilemma. “We are unable to decide whether to return to our homes or stayback at respective hostels,” said a student of KU.
On Saturday morning, the authorities in National Instituteof Technology (NIT) Srinagar evacuated all hostel boarders, particularlynon-local students of the institute.
An official said all the non-local students were providedSRTC buses up to Jammu.
“After advisory was issued for tourists and Yatris, wereceived verbal directions from state as well central administration to suspendthe classwork and evacuate the students from hostels,” an official said wishinganonymity.
The official said the “SRTC buses were provided byadministration and the institute was “advised” to evacuate the students.
“Semester break was already going on, otherwise there wouldhave been chaos in campus because we have 3500 students enrolled here. Thesewere maximum first semester students and all were shifted,” the official said.
The official however said there were no written orders fromadministration to suspend the classwork or empty the hostels. The official saidthey also received calls from parents of non-local students who were worriedabout the whereabouts of their kids. “They also pleaded to send back thestudents to their homes and we accordingly conveyed it to MHRD as well,” theofficial said. The classwork for all the courses at NIT Srinagar has beensuspended indefinite till further orders.
Meanwhile, the Principal of Kashmir Government Polytechnic(KGP) College Gogji Bagh also directed the hostel boarders to vacate thehostels immediately.
“It is notified for the information of all students who areresiding in the college hostel to vacate from the hostel immediately and nostudents will be provided hostel facility till further orders,” reads anotification issued by principal KGP College Gogji Bagh here.
Meanwhile the scores of students from different departmentsof Kashmir University on Saturday staged a protest against the “war likesituation” prevailing in valley.
The protesting students said the government has createdpanic among the students particularly the hostel boarders.
Registrar KU, Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir said they have not takenany decision about the hostels. “Let students stay at hostels with ease. Wehave not taken any decision to vacate them,” Mir said.
Meanwhile, the evacuation of NIT hostel boarders createdpanic among university students who questioned the state and varsityadministrations about their safety in hostels.
“We are totally confused, our exams are going but we havedistractions from all sides due to the prevailing situation. If everything isalright then why NIT students were evacuated from hostels and sent back totheir respective homes,” said a student of IUST.
Vice Chancellor IUST, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Siddique said”we are on watch and ward mode and no hostel boarder will face any sort oftrouble.
“The situation is not clear yet and we have not decided tovacate hostels. In case anything happens then we have our buses available andhostel students will be dropped at their homes,” he said. He they have notdecided yet to vacate the hostels.