Paramilitary forces were stationed at NIT Srinagar after students clashed with police.
Highlights
- Citing safety concerns, non-Kashmiri students demand exams be postponed
- They are also calling for action against cops who lathicharged students
- NIT campus has been tense since students clashed over Indias T20 defeat
Student protesters at Srinagar's National Institute of Technology or NIT boycotted classes on Thursday morning and raised slogans in the campus demanding that the institute be shifted out of the Jammu and Kashmir capital.
The "NIT shift karo (shift NIT)" protests by students from outside the state have continued today despite an
assurance from Union education minister Smriti Irani that they will be safe at the institute and will have to deal with no injustice.
To allay their apprehensions, Ms Irani has posted a team of senior officials from her ministry at the institute, who she said would be there till exams are conducted. Sources told NDTV that the ministry offered to conduct the exams under video surveillance to reassure the students, but they rejected the offer.
The non-Kashmiri students told the visiting central team yesterday that they fear for their safety and so want the institute shifted out of Srinagar. "We want to go home and then wherever you send us," a student representative said. Examinations are scheduled to be held from Monday, but the students have demanded that they be postponed.
They have also demanded action against the policemen who lathicharged student protesters on Tuesday evening after a clash at the institute's main gates. The students have alleged that several of them needed surgery after the beating.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh has said a committee inquiring into the allegations of police excesses will submit its report in 15 days. "We will take action against police officers who violated directions. Some police officers exceeded their duty," he said.
"Strongly condemn lathicharge on #NITSrinagar students. When will BJP &allies learn that brute force against students can never be a solution?" tweeted Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
The NIT campus has been tense since last week when local students and those from outside fought over the former celebrating
India's defeat in the World T20 semi-final match.
Local students have told the central team that the campus must not be shifted.