The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, expressing deep concern and outrage over the recent brutal assault on 18 Kashmiri students in Jhansi Uttar Pradesh and similar incidents across the country. In a statement, National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, condemned this heinous act and demanded an urgent and comprehensive inquiry into the assault in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
In a letter addressed to the Union Home Affairs, Amit Shah, the Association highlighted the alarming trend of violence against Kashmiri students studying outside their state, causing fear and insecurity among them. The recent incident in Jhansi Uttar Pradesh, where 18 young students from Jammu and Kashmir were assaulted, underscores the urgent need for immediate action.
Khuehami explained, “A group of 18 students from J&K were enrolled at a branch of Jawahar Navodaya in Jhansi as part of an integration program. However, Navodaya Vidyalaya in Jhansi witnessed a regrettable incident where class 9th students from Jammu and Kashmir participating in a cultural exchange program became victims of an alleged assault. They were sent back to their home region after being brutally thrashed. The incident occurred in the aftermath of an altercation involving students from Jhansi at Navodaya Vidyalaya in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. Local students in Jhansi gheraoed the hostel where the visiting students from the Kashmir valley were staying and raised slogans against them. The locals demanded that the visitors be handed over to them and resorted to stone pelting. This incident has deeply shaken the peace and harmony among students and requires your urgent intervention,” he said.
“This incident, the sixth of its kind in the past nine months, highlights a growing trend of violence against Kashmiri students studying outside their state, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among them. This altercation, coupled with similar incidents in Aligarh Muslim University, Noida, and other areas, underscores the urgent need for immediate and decisive action to address this escalating problem,” he emphasized.
“The students of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those from Kashmir, are facing immense difficulties due to relentless harassment and ruthless beatings they have been subjected to on numerous occasions. These incidents have caused severe stress and mental trauma among the students. Despite bringing this matter to the attention of the concerned authorities, no concrete steps have been taken to ensure the safety and security of these students,” Khuehami stated.
“It is distressing to note that even though the Home Ministry had previously issued advisories to take strict action against those responsible for such incidents, the harassment continues unabated. The hostile and irrational practice of inducing fear in society through such culture must be curbed immediately.”
“The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association strongly condemns these heinous acts and demands a thorough and time-bound inquiry into the facts, circumstances, and nefarious designs, if any, behind the continuous attacks, intimidation, and harassment of Kashmiri students. We urge that those found guilty be held accountable through criminal proceedings. Additionally, we insist that authorities responsible for their lackadaisical attitude in ensuring a safe and conducive atmosphere for J&K students, especially those from Kashmir, be held accountable.”
“The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association requests Home Minister Amit Shah for intervention to put an end to this culture of harassment. We urge you to initiate immediate steps to stop these incidents and ensure the complete safety of Kashmiri students. We request you to initiate a comprehensive inquiry into the recent incident in Jhansi and other similar cases to identify the perpetrators and ensure they are held accountable under the law. We appeal to you to constitute a high-level committee to oversee the welfare of Kashmiri students and assure them of a secure environment conducive to learning. This step is essential to ensure that such incidents never recur in the future and that the educational interests of J&K students are safeguarded. These attacks not only jeopardize the physical well-being of Kashmiri students but also create a hostile and fear-inducing environment that severely impacts their psychological well-being and hampers their ability to focus on their studies,” Khuehami added.
“Additionally, we request Home Minister Amit Shah to sensitize the nodal officers appointed earlier to address complaints from students of Jammu and Kashmir. This step is essential to ensure that such incidents never recur in the future and that the educational interests of J&K students are safeguarded. We are confident that his prompt intervention will go a long way in restoring a sense of security among Kashmiri students and fostering a safe environment for learning. We request him to address this matter urgently and take necessary actions to put an end to the continuous harassment faced by our students.
