Tension erupts at two Jammu colleges, Kashmiri students ‘scared’

“We were in college when students came raising anti-Pakistan and anti-Kashmir slogans,’’ said a Kashmiri student of Yogananda College of Engineering and Technology. “We were scared as they threatened us. We did not say anything,’’ she said, adding that some teachers had joined the protesters. “Security staff at the college watched as mute spectators,’’ she said. She further said police arrived only after all protesters had left the campus.

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The protests compelled the college management to postpone mid-term exams scheduled for Thursday.

Vidhi Singh, who runs the Barnai-based college among other institutions, said, “As they were peacefully raising pro-India slogans and waving the Tricolour, we did not stop them,” he said, adding that no untoward incident took place.

At Government Engineering and Technology College, students accompanied by locals went to the hostel where students from the Valley stay. “They raised anti-Pakistan and anti-Kashmir slogans and asked us to chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai,’’ a student said, adding that “they even pushed some of us as we remained silent’’. “They tried to provoke us, but we did not react,’’ the student said, adding that the protesters left after hoisting the Tricolour on the hostel building. “We fear for our safety as our hostel is located in an isolated place,’’ said another student.

College principal Dr Sameru Sharma did not take calls on her cellphone. DGP K Rajendra said no Kashmiri student was assaulted. “We will take action against those spreading rumours,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, SSP Sunil Gupta confirmed that some students at Government Engineering and Technology College raised Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans after college hours. “As a precautionary measure in the view of the NIT situation, we have asked authorities of these colleges to call us the moment they apprehend trouble,” he added.