Srinagar- Several Kashmiri students on Friday were attacked and injured by right-wing activists inside Mewar University in Rajasthan following a minor altercation between them and the local students.
At least 45 students, including 25 Kashmiris were detained by police in a bid to contain the situation.
According to Kashmiri students, they were dining in the University mess when an argument over a trivial issue between them and local students took an ugly turn. The local students, they said, got infuriated and started beating them.
“As if this was not enough, local students sought help from right-wing activists who barged inside the campus and started pelting stones at us,” a Kashmiri student, wishing not to be named, told Kashmir Observer.
Besides pelting stones at the Kashmiri students, he said, the local students and right-wing activists also raised provocative slogans. He said at least four Kashmiri students were injured in stone pelting, one among them critically.
He identified him as Furqan Ahmad, a second year student of Bsc Radiology.
“After coming under attack, we also raised slogans. We felt helpless after being cornered by local students and goons inside the campus,” he said.
“We are living under constant fear after being brutally assaulted and haunted here. We want to go back to Kashmir. We appeal to the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to intervene and ensure our safe evacuation from here,” he added.
Vice-Chancellor, Mewar University, Dr Alok Mishra told Kashmir Observer over phone that some Kashmiri as well as local students suffered injuries during a scuffle.
However, he quickly said that Kashmir students shouted slogans in response to the provocative slogans raised by the local students.
“Slogans were raised from both sides. However, it were the local students who chanted slogans first. Investigation is on and whosoever will be found involved in creating trouble inside the campus will be dealt seriously,” Mishra said.
As of now, the VC said, the situation is under control.
A police official from Gangrar police station in Chittorgarh said the situation is under control and those detained will be released soon. He also said the scuffle between the two sides broke out over a trivial issue during dinner at the mess located in the varsity campus.
“We are investigating the matter thoroughly. No student has been arrested but taken into preventive custody,” he said.
However, Nasir Khuehami, national convener of J&K Students Association said that 15 Kashmiri students have been arrested and one injured following a clash with students from Rajasthan & Bihar at Mewar University in Rajasthan.
“The altercation, he said, occurred while queuing for food at the mess during which a group of Kashmiri students was assaulted.
“I spoke to DG Police Rajasthan, Umesh Mishra and raised the issue of detention of Kashmiri students. I requested him for intervention and he assured me of action and at the same time has directed SP Chittorgarh to ensure immediate release of detained students,” Khuehami wrote on his Twitter handle.
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