KU Students Protest NIT Incident, Condemn ‘Hooliganism’

Srinagar, April 2, KNT: Hundreds of students at the University of Kashmir on Saturday staged a protest condemning the alleged conduct of non-local students at National Institute of Technology Srinagar following recent unrest on the institute’s campus.

The protesting students described the developments at NIT as unacceptable and accused certain non-local students of indulging in disruptive behaviour. They asserted that visitors to the Valley should respect local sensitivities and not take undue advantage of what they termed Kashmir’s hospitality. “They are our guests and should behave like guests,” several students said during the protest march.

The demonstration comes in the wake of clashes at NIT Srinagar a day earlier, reportedly triggered after some local students celebrated the victory of the West Indies cricket team, leading to confrontation and damage to property on the campus.

Eyewitnesses told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that a large group of students at Kashmir University took out a march through various sections of the campus and adjoining areas, raising slogans and expressing solidarity with local students at NIT. Some reports indicated that provocative slogans were raised during the protest, further intensifying tensions.

Protesting students demanded that the college administration take strict action against those responsible for the disturbances at NIT. They maintained that no student has the right to compel others to observe or react in a particular manner over sporting outcomes.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation amid heightened sensitivities following the twin episodes at the two institutions. [KNT]