The authorities have ruled out the possibility of shifting the National Institute of Technology (NIT) from Srinagar but agreed to the agitating students’ demands to withdraw restrictions on religious festivities and movement of students of all genders. Earlier, students were asked to seek permission for celebrating any festival inside the campus.
The strife-ridden NIT has been in the headlines since March 31, when clashes erupted between local and outstation students as the former celebrated India’s defeat at the hands of West Indies in
the WT20 cricket semi-final. It led to temporary closure of the institute as outstation students staged demonstrations and clashed with the local police.
On Saturday, the institute management announced that NIT would not be shifted from Srinagar. According to a notice issued by it, “This (shifting) cannot be agreed to as per Ministry of Human Resource Development.”
The notice was issued following separate meetings between agitating students with the Chairman of the NIT Board of Governors, two members of the HRD Ministry, and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh.
The NIT management has withdrawn restrictions on the movement of girl students to and from their hostels. “It has been decided that the pass system will be immediately removed. The timing of moving to and from hostels should also be relaxed,” the notice said.
The authorities have also agreed to build infrastructure, enhance cleanliness and discipline staff accused of rude behaviour and discrimination. The issues will be discussed in the meeting of the Board of Governors on April 11 and time-bound action will be taken under the supervision of the Board.
Meanwhile, Nirmal Singh said that any decision on the students’ demand for action against police officials would be taken only after the magisterial enquiry is completed and tabled.
“The magisterial enquiry is a process which will include every event that led to this kind of a situation. let that be completed first.” Singh said.
Meanwhile, the separatists have called for a day-long shutdown in Kashmir on April 12 against what they called “victimization of Kashmiri students in educational institutions outside Kashmir.”
Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani and JKlF chief Yasin Malik called for the shutdown.
Singh dismissed the separatists’ allegations, asserting that students from Kashmir were safe in other parts of the country and added that their security was the responsibility of the whole nation.
“Children are children. They should not be differentiated on the basis of region or religion. We are committed to their security wherever they are. The Home Ministry has been seriously monitoring the security of Kashmiri students outside the State,” said the Deputy Chief Minster.
Meanwhile, the police have registered two separate cases against the agitators who allegedly roughed up police officers and ransacked several buildings and assets of the NIT.