The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Wednesday constituted an enquiry committee to look into the allegations of “brutal” use of police force inside the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar campus against protesting students.
The action came after videos of police excesses against non-Kashmiri students went viral on social media. Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani spoke to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who assured her of the safety of students on the campus. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too talked to Mehbooba.
Meanwhile, a two-member HRD Ministry team arrived in Srinagar to take stock of the situation. The Central team sent on the request of Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh discussed the situation with the agitating students, NIT authorities and officials of the police and divisional administration.
Nirmal Singh, who is personally monitoring the ground situation from Jammu, told reporters, “An enquiry committee has been constituted to look into the allegations of brutal use of force by the police.”
Worried parents staged demonstrations in Jammu, demanding security for their children, stranded on the campus for the last couple of days.
Several socio-political organisations have given a call for Jammu bandh on April 7. Meanwhile, showing solidarity with non-Kashmiri NIT students, Jammu University students blocked traffic for over two hours on the road leading to the bridge over Tawi River.
State BJP spokesman Virender Gupta, while condemning the police brutality, asked the NIT authorities and the police why no action was taken against students who raised anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans on last Thursday and Friday when India lost to West Indies in the T20 World Cup cricket match.
Youth Congress workers also staged a protest outside the residence of the Deputy Chief Minister over the issue.
Trouble started on the campus on March 31 when West Indies defeated India in the WT20 semi-finals and some local students celebrated the victory, leading to an altercation with non-Kashmiri students. The authorities closed the NIT and asked students to vacate hostels. Classes resumed on April 4 after some reconciliatory efforts by the administration.
However, on Tuesday,
non-Kashmiri students boycotted classes and made an abortive attempt to stage a demonstration.
“A mob of about 500 students assaulted policemen and started pelting stones, resulting in damage to public property. The policemen chased the mob and in the melee some of the students got injured. They were given first aid,” a police spokesman said, adding an FIR has been lodged and the incident is being investiagted.
The campus was relatively peaceful on Wednesday as a couple of CRPF companies were posted inside and outside. Academic activities also resumed partially, an NIT staff told The Pioneer. However, mediapersons were barred from campus as the agitating students continued to upload their pictures and videos.
Non-Kashmiri students are demanding hoisting of the Tricolour on the campus, deployment of paramilitary for security instead of the local police and action against the stone-pelters.
Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said the Government was taking all requisite measures to restore normal academic activity at the earliest.
Akhtar said the ongoing tension in NIT was an administrative and not a security issue. “I assure parents that their wards are safe and the State Government is taking all measures to normalise the situation at NIT,” Akhtar said, adding it was not a local versus non-local issue as is being projected by a section of the media.
Akhtar said a senior police officer is monitoring the situation and normalcy would be restored on the campus soon.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the deployment of paramilitary forces at NIT. “Two companies of CRPF on a campus is not normal by any stretch of imagination. Requires tact, not use of force,” he tweeted.
legislator Engineer Rashid said the issue was being blown out of proportion. “It is unfortunate that from the national media to top brasses in Home Ministry, ultra-nationalist politicians and observers are hailing the hooliganism of non-Kashmiri students who are crossing all limits and not sparing even the police as they are getting applauded throughout India for their unlawful and shameful acts,” Rashid said.