Clashes at NIT Srinagar: Centre sends 2-member team to assess situation

The non-local students have been boycotting classes since Monday after clashes with Kashmiri students who celebrated West Indies’ victory over India in the World T20 semi final on March 31. This led to tension in the institute with the non-locals alleging “anti-national” sentiment among the Kashmiris.

A day after tensions erupted at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar, the human resource development ministry (HRD) sent a two-member team on Wednesday to assess the situation on campus.

Tension gripped the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar after a group of students clashed with police on Tuesday (NIT Sringar’s Facebook Page)

Police and students clashed after outstation students expressed a sense of insecurity and attempted to leave the campus following last week’s clash after the World Twenty20 semi-final match between India and West Indies.

Some students were injured when police resorted to lathicharge.

Unrest was witnessed at the campus, the scene of last week’s clash, with outstation students expressing a sense of insecurity and attempting to leave the campus, leading to a confrontation with police which resorted to lathicharge in which some were injured.

The institute administration suspended classes over the weekend to prevent the violence from escalating. Classes were resumed on Tuesday, but few students have been attended the sessions. “The atmosphere is becoming tense due to the ongoing clashes,” students told Hindustan Times.

NIT gate, rain-soaked Srinagar and a CRPF jawan crosses the road.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was deployed on Tuesday night with the Jammu and Kashmir government assuring students of adequate security. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also discussed the situation at NIT with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Clashes broke out last Friday between local and outstation students over India’s defeat in the World Twenty20 semi-final match, forcing NIT authorities to shut down the campus till Tuesday.

“We take responsibility of all the students of the country studying in NIT. We have put in place all the measures,” deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh had said.

Singh added that the administration held a meeting with the students to resolve the issue. Outstation students demanded additional security and postponement of exams. The senior superintendent of police is in the meantime camping in the area to ensure peace.

“Director of NIT has said that the demands have been accepted,” Singh said.