Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Ready to study in Pakistan if India allows, say ousted students

    Srinagar: Kashmir students, who were ‘thrown out of an Indian varsity for cheering Pakistan during a cricket match with arch rivals India on Sunday and were subsequently booked for sedition, Wednesday said they were ‘ready to study in Pakistan if Indian government allowed them’.

    Pakistan government Thursday offered admissions to Kashmir student who were ‘thrown out’ and booked for sedition after an Indian varsity filed a complaint against them over cheering for Pakistan when they beat India in a narrowly cricket encounter during Asia Cup match.

    “Our hearts and educational institutions are open for all Kashmir students who were suspended and charged with sedition for celebrating Pakistan’s victory,” said spokesperson of Foreign Office Pakistan.
    Reacting to Islamabad’s offer, the suspended students said: if authorities allow us, we are ready to go to Pakistan for studies.  One among the 67 ousted students, Musadiq, said: “We will feel secure in Pakistan rather than India after the recent incident. It is the matter of our future and if our future will be secure in Pakistan we are ready to go.”
    The student said that the Indian university authorities in Uttar Pradesh behaved very rudely with them.
    He told GNS: “Now that university has filed sedition case against us and crossed all the limits, it is impossible for us to go back to the university.” He added: “If the varsity returns us our certificates, we will leave the institute.”
    A suspended B tech student, who wished not to be named, said that if authorities think we are not safe in outside institutes, let them allow us to go to Pakistan. “It is clear that we are not secure in Indian institutes, and if authorities are unable to provide us security, then we are ready to go to Pakistan for studying.”
    He added: “We are students but we were treated like criminals and murderers by varsity authorities.”
    The student said that the varsity management’s role is disgusting. “They instead of listening to us threw us out of the university. It was the matter between students but varsity gave it another colour.”
    The students questioned the varsity asking: “On what basis university suspended us?” They added: “Now, after suspending us they want apology. They should have done this at the time when they forced us to leave.”
    The students appealed Jammu and Kashmir government to intervene in the matter in order to secure their future.
    The trouble started on Sunday when Pakistan defeated India in one of the league matches. Kashmir students at the varsity in Meerut had cheered for Pakistan which angered the Indian students and they ‘harassed and allegedly thrashed’ few Kashmir students.
    Next day, the varsity authorities, according to Kashmir students, forced them to leave the varsity with the help of police. The students have been suspended for unknown time.
    The university claims some Kashmir students celebrated Pakistan’s victory and raised slogans in the community hall of the hostel, which led to a clash with other students and escalated into stone-throwing.
    The university suspended all 67 Kashmir students of one hostel block and asked them to leave, but no action was taken against the other group. Around 200 Kashmir students are taking engineering and law courses in the university. Ousted Kashmir students, however, maintain that they were cornered by the Indian students and were ‘thrown’ out during the early dawn hours on Monday.
    University officials claim the students had committed an ‘anti-national act’ and also vandalised hostel property. (GNS)

  • Kashmir’s will not accept any Toying with the future of our youngsters: Yasin Malik

    JKLF To Hold a protest rally and sit in against this Indian Oppression 
    tomorrow on Friday 7th march after Friday prayers at Lal Chowk

     Srinagar: Kashmir’s will not accept any Toying with the future of our youngsters. Oppressive measures against Kashmiri students in Meerut, beating them and now lodging a FIR of treason against them is a reflection of India’s animosity against people of Jammu Kashmir. To show solidarity with these oppressed students, and protest against the Indian operation against them, JKLF will organize a protest rally and sit in at Lal Chowk tomorrow. This was stated by the chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik while speaking to Media person on the issue of expelled Kashmiri students.

    Yasin Malik said that expelling students from university, beating them and now registering a case of treason against them just because these people chose to cheer for some team during a cricket match is actually a shameful act of Indian rulers and cannot be termed but as mental and moral bankruptcy of these rulers. This shows the level of frustration and animosity of India against Kashmir’s. Yasin Malik said that in the whole world people rising above the politics, nationhood and other things like or dislikes games and teams playing those games. They cheer and share joy or sorrow as per their will and desire and there is no discrimination shown on this in the whole world.  But ironically Kashmiri students are being targeted just because Indian cricket team lost a match and these boys chose to cheer for the winning team. These boys are beaten and after a day are served an expulsion notice signed by vice chancellor of the university. What is more agonizing is that now a case of treason has been registered against these young boys.
    Yasin Malik said that this childish behavior of Indian authorities has actually exposed its tall claims of democracy and openness. In this nation wild animal rights are protected but the rights of humans are tarnished which is highly immoral and inhuman added Yasin.
    He said that people of Jammu Kashmir cannot remain silent spectators on this issue. We cannot watch our young ones, their careers and future ruined .therefore Kashmiris will protest against this oppressive behavior of Indian state and authorities and tomorrow on 7th march 2014, after Friday prayers JKLF will organize a protest rally and sit in at Lal Chowk.
    Yasin Malik appealed to human rights groups of the world; civil societies and Conscientious people around to come out openly in support of these students who are being discriminated only because they are Kashmiris and save them and their future from the Indian wrath.

  • Two “misguided” Kashmiri students in Meerut fearing for their lives

    As Omar Abdullah termed Kashmiri students as “misguided” in his latest tweet, the two trapped Kashmiri students in Meerut at the same time are fearing for their lives. One of the two students when contacted by Kashmir Life narrates his ordeal.

    Srinagar: We have not eaten anything from last three days. Not a single rupee is in our pockets. One of our seniors, a Kashmiri studying in the same college, took us back to campus from New Delhi where our University officials left us. After reaching Meerut, we couldn’t dare to go back to the campus for the fear of our lives. The anger against us [Kashmiri students] had peaked among non-Kashmiri students. Our senior arranged a room outside the campus but our bad luck; it is marred with mosquitoes and rodents!

    We can’t go outside as we were informed that non-Kashmiri students have burnt our effigies in the campus. We are trapped in a very worst situation. We were also told that some non-Kashmiri students have made their mind to kill us. Besides, FIR registered against us has already frightened us. The health condition of my friend has worsened when he heard that UP police have registered a sedition charge on us. My only window to the world is internet on my cell, which keeps me updating about the happenings around.
    It all started after Pakistan won a match against India on Sunday, March 02, 2014. Non-Kashmiri students in the hostel abused and pelted stones on us. They broke the window panes and lights in the hostel. They also took out knifes and iron rods to kill us. But with the help of Almighty Allah, they couldn’t touch us.
    On next day, a notice was served by college administration informing all Kashmiri students that a fine of Rs 5000 has been imposed on us. And, we were told that all Kashmiri students have been rusticated from hostel for three days. The college administration forced us to go out of hostel but not a single student budged from their place. Then after 3:00 pm on March 03, university administration called at least 100 cops in the hostel, who forced us to sit in buses. Such was the hurry on part of administration that we were not even allowed to take money, ATM cards and other things with us.
    We were assured monetary help and were told that after seven days we would be called back. But when we reached Delhi railway station, the police official told us: “Your teachers [university administration] are waiting inside the railway station. They will give you some money then you can go to your homes.”
    But when we went inside the railway station, we found none! A few of us were having some money in our pockets. And then we started getting dispersed from Delhi. Some among us went to their homes, others rented space, while rest remained on railway station as they haven’t a single penny in their pockets. And I was one of them.
    I contacted the Vice Chancellor, who bluntly told me: “You have to appeal for readmission then only you can come back to the university.” Is this democratic India?
    Now college administration is misleading media by lying that Kashmiri students had pitched Pakistani slogans and destroyed everything in the college. But it is totally wrong. We just ran from the ground toward our rooms for the fear of our lives. They also told media that Kashmiri students distributed sweets in the hostel. I don’t understand why they want to frame us? In Meerut, media is totally doing biased reporting, defaming Kashmiri students.
    We are not safe here. Why university administration is playing with our careers? What is our fault?
    Please, please, please help us.

  • Pakistan regrets India’s move to book treason case against Kashmiri students

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday regretted India’s decision to try 67 students, who cheered Pakistani cricket team in its match against India, under treason charges.

    Swami Vivekanand Subharti University in Meerut, Uttar Pardesh suspended 67 students of the Kashmiri origin earlier this week – their crime was that they supported Pakistani cricket team in Asia Cup match against India on Sunday.

    Pakistan beat India by one wicket in the last over.

    Pakistan’s Foreign Office criticized the Indian move and offered that these students can take admissions in Pakistani universities.

    According to reports coming in from Indian media, the Indian state police have registered a case of sedition against these 67 students. 

    Reports say that these have been asked to vacate university hostel and have been asked to go back to their homes in Indian-held Kashmir.

  • UP police registers sedition case against exiled Kashmiri students

    Srinagar: After University authorities and Uttar Pradesh police forced Kashmiri students to leave Meerut University campus, the UP government has defended the varsity move and sedition charges have been slapped on them for cheering Pakistan’s victory.
    The case of sedition has been registered under Section 124 (a) of the Indian Penal Code against unknown students of SVSU, a New Delhi based newspaper has reported.
    The students were watching a nail biting Indo-Pak cricket match last Sunday. Following Pakistan’s victory, non-Kashmiri students had attacked and abused their Kashmiri counterparts.
    The Kashmiri students were only next day to vacate the hostels and leave for homes. On Wednesday afternoon, they reached home.

  • CM Meets Governor

    Jammu: Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, met Mr. N.N. Vohra, Governor here at Raj Bhavan, today.
    During over an hour long meeting, the Chief Minister briefed the Governor about various important matters which had been decided in the Budget Session of the Legislature. The Governor stressed the need, interalia, of ensuring prompt further action and effective enforcement in respect of certain Bills which had been passed by the Legislature.
    The Governor and Chief Minister also discussed issues relating to internal and external security management.

  • Kashmir students booked for inciting violence after Indian varsity files complaint

    Srinagar: Kashmir students, who had cheered for Pakistan cricket team during the Asia Cup game against India and were ‘thrown out’ by the authorities at an Indian varsity, have been booked on charges of inciting hatred and violence after the varsity authorities lodged a complaint with the police.
    Uttar Pradesh police registered a case against Kashmir students after Swami Vivekananda Subharti University authorities filed a complaint against them.
    The university claims some Kashmiri students celebrated Pakistan’s victory and raised slogans in the community hall of the hostel, which led to a clash with other students and escalated into stone-throwing.
    The university suspended all 67 Kashmir students of one hostel block and asked them to leave, but no action was taken against the other group. Around 200 Kashmir students are taking engineering and law courses in the university. Ousted Kashmir students, however, maintain that they were cornered by the Indian students and were ‘thrown’ out during the early dawn hours on Monday.
    University officials claim the students had committed an ‘anti-national act’ and also vandalised hostel property.
    “Yes, a case has been registered against the students after university authorities filed a complaint against the students. We have registered FIR under section 154A and 153A,” Onkar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Meerut told GNS over phone.
    The SSP, however, didn’t reveal the FIR number.
    He said the investigations have been taken up. “If any student is found involved, we will arrest him and we will also investigate the ransacking inside the varsity,” he added.
    Some of the Kashmir students meanwhile reached home on Wednesday. (GNS)

  • Expulsion of students from Meerut varsity due to Indo-Pak Match

    Pro-freedom camp slams the move
    Srinagar: Taking strong note of the recent expulsion of the students from one of the varsity of Meerut, Kashmir’s separatist leadership stated that the move has ‘punctured’ the tall claims of democracy and secularism.
    “The people of Kashmir continue to remain under suppression in every nook and the corner of the corner of the world,” said Huriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, adding that the expulsion of the students vindicates that the people of Kashmir are not safe within or outside Kashmir.
    The senior separatist leader stated further that the tall claims of safety for the people of Kashmir are all ‘hollow’ in nature and that they are continuously being subjected to political vengeance in every nook and corner of India. “The state government in actual is doing nothing but is acting as a mute spectator.”
    Huriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told KNS over phone that the expulsion of the students by University authorities in Meerut is a reflection of communal mindset and racial bias. “We have learnt that some 150 students have been expelled from the varsity only because they expressed their emotions during a cricket match. The act must be condemned at all levels.”
    Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) while talking to KNS said that the cricket or any other sports activity is a global event and that everyone is free to express emotions for any team but the attitude of the varsity authorities was ‘pathetic’. “If this remains the mindset of people who run educational institutes in India- You can imagine the conditions of other Kashmiris who are earning their livelihood in different Indian states.” (KNS)

  • SMC’s physically challenged employee brings victory to state: Dr Qasba

    Srinagar: A physically challenged employee of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) was among the few such players from the state to represent Jammu and Kashmir in the Deaf India Premiere League being played at Amritsar from February 24 to March 1.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, “Imran Khan, having impaired hearing and speech  works as a computer operator in the SMC’s City Drainage Civil Division was granted permission by SMC commissioner Dr G N Qasba to participate in the league.”
    Khan, who is also the general secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association of Deaf not only brought victory to the state in Deaf IPL 2014 but was also declared  man of the match besides rewarded with  a cash prize of RS/- 4000.
    On this rare feat and active participation in sports activities, SMC commissioner Dr Qasba not only granted him leave and permission but distributed sweets to encourage him and celebrated his success with SMC officials. “This is a proud moment for the SMC to have its employees, despite all odds, not giving up and participating in games,” said Dr Qasba.
    He said such people should be a role model for all those facing challenges physically. Despite physically challenged khan “has not only brought laurels to the state but has indicated a message that a person should not allow any physical challenge to become a handicap in one’s life,” said Qasba. 

  • President NCSU Kashmir appeals VC SVSU Meerut.

    Asks Students to maintain peace and tranquility while studying outside State

    Srinagar: During a student meet today at NC Party Headquarters Srinagar, President National Conference Students’ Union, Mr. Imran Pandit expressed sorrow and serious concern over the reported suspension of 67 Kashmiri Students from Swami Vivekananda Subharti University (SVSU) Meerut, U. P. who were allegedly involved in creating indiscipline by cheering Pakistan during and after the India-Pak match at the Asia Cup on Sunday. Reportedly groups of students were watching the match on TV in the community hall of the hostel at the SVSU, a clash broke out soon after India lost a result which the Kashmiris allegedly celebrated.
    The student leader said that the use of different yardsticks by the SVSU administration for Kashmiris is highly condemnable as it was known to me that no action has been taken against the other alleged group involved in the clash.
    President NCSU appealed Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Subharti University (SVSU) to revoke the ongoing suspension of 67 Kashmiri Students. He also appealed all the Kashmiri Students to maintain peace and tranquility while studying outside the state and expressed hope that normalcy returns back to the SVSU Campus soon