Bhopal: Even as reports of incidents of alleged harassment against Kashmiri students in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack keeps pouring in from across the nation, the youths from Valley, studying in various educational institutes in the city, have no apprehensions about their safety; they feel quite safe here.
Nor have they received any threats or faced any kind of aggressive behaviour post terror attack in Pulwama district of J&K on February 14. Some of the students are, though, keeping away from their colleges, just as a matter of precaution. And none of them has, so far, received any messages from the police or the administration enquiring about their safety and wellbeing. Neither have the administration of the educational institutions contacted them.
The students, who have come all the way from Jammu and Kashmir to pursue their studies, condemned the terror attack unequivocally. “Whether a soldier is killed or a civilian, it is humanity that gets murdered,” said one of them. Another blamed it on ‘bloody politics’. Free Press talked to some of them. Excerpts:
I belong to Pulwama district. No, I haven’t received any threats. The behaviour of my fellow students with me has not changed even a bit. No one has contacted me about my security. I totally condemn the terror attack. February 14 was a black day for India as we lost more than 40 soldiers. Violence is not the solution to any problem. All this is happening due to bloody politics and nothing else. Shahid Bashir (M.Tech. student in UIT, RGPV)
I am from Baramulla. In comparison to other states, we feel one hundred per cent safer in Bhopal. I am living in a rented accommodation near Kamla Park for the past four years and I have never faced any problems. Even after the Pulwama incident, our routine remains unchanged. I am not visiting the university now because I am working on my research project. What has happened is entirely condemnable. Such things create problems for students from the Valley, who are studying in various parts of the country. Ashiq Hussain (PhD scholar, Sociology Department, Barkatullah University)
I hail from the Anantnag district. I haven’t received any threats so far and neither have any of the 10-odd students who stay in the same building in which I live in the Ibrahimpura locality. But yes, we are feeling unsafe; especially as TV news bulletins are reporting attacks on Kashmiris in other parts of the country. I have not gone to the college after the incident but I am visiting the neighbourhood shops. No one has contacted me about my well-being so far. Sohail Firdous, (BE student in Bhabha Engineering College, Jatkhedi)
I am from the Anantnag district. Many members of my family are in the defence forces. Whatever has happened is very tragic. It is utterly wrong. We are Hindustanis first and then Kashmiris. We are with our ‘mulk’ (country). As for threats, there have been none so far. And hopefully, there would be none. Misba Shahid (BE student in Bhabha Engineering College)
