The authorities in Kashmir closed down National Institute of Technology (NIT) after clashes broke out between sections of students over Indian cricket team’s defeat in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in Mumbai Thursday night.
The NIT, located at Nigeen in Hazratbal area of Srinagar, in the vicinity of University of Kashmir campus, has predominantly non-local students on rolls. Sources said the clashes erupted when some Kashmiri students celebrated the Indian team’s defeat.
They said the non-local students came out of hostels and chanted slogans in favour of Indian team and marched carrying national flag. The authorities on Friday closed entry gates of the NIT when the non-local students began protests inside the campus. They were demanding adequate security.
“In view of the prevailing indiscipline created by the students, the Institute is closed till further orders from today, the 1st of April, 2016. The students are, therefore, directed to vacate the hostels,” Registrar NIT, FA Mir said.
He said the decision has been taken after the agitating students refused to maintain discipline despite repeated requests by the Institute authorities as well as the local administration,” he said.
Many non-local students updated the goings-on inside the campus on social networking sites. This created panic among their families and relatives.
However, police said the situation has been brought under control. A police official said that some miscreants tried to create law and order problem in the Institute. “The situation was brought under control and everything is normal now,” he said.
The incident took place in the backdrop of Indian’s cricket team’s defeat at the hands of West Indies at Wankhade Stadium, Mumbai. People in several parts of Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir Valley celebrated India’s ouster as youngsters danced on streets and firecrackers were burst.
In many areas, pro-West Indies slogans were chanted. Such scenes were also witnessed inside the Kashmir University and NIT campuses also.