Students’ protest continues at NIT as J-K govt orders probe, FIRs lodged | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
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Students’ protest continues at NIT as J-K govt orders probe, FIRs lodged

Hindustan Times | ByHT Correspondent, Srinagar
Apr 08, 2016 12:36 PM IST

Some outstation students staged a protest march within the campus demanding shifting of the institute from Kashmir besides action against policemen involved in lathicharge on them on Tuesday.

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered an inquiry into clashes at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar even as protests by students continued on the campus heavily guarded by police and CRPF.

A policeman checks the bag of a student near the main gate of National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar on April 7, 2016.(Waseem Andrabi / HT Photo)
A policeman checks the bag of a student near the main gate of National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar on April 7, 2016.(Waseem Andrabi / HT Photo)

Two FIRs were also filed regarding the incidents of violence.

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Some outstation students staged a protest march within the campus demanding shifting of the institute from Kashmir besides action against policemen involved in lathicharge on them on Tuesday. The protesters, who included girl students, were chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, officials said.

As tension prevailed, state police chief K Rajendra Kumar visited the campus to take stock of the situation.

The protesting outstation students have also accused some faculty members of harassment and demanded their resignation so that “they do not play with any student’s career”.

Faculty members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were shocked at the allegations levelled against them.

“The allegations are shocking. Just check the records and you will see outstation students have been doing better at examinations. If anything, we have been generous with them,” a faculty member said.

He, however, said the faculty will not compromise on the standards of this prestigious institute.

“We cannot pass even those who are mediocre in studies. The minimum standards have to be upheld,” he said.

Officials said classes were held on Thursday although non-Kashmiri students continued with protests and boycotted classes. FA Mir, registrar, said, “Situation is normal. Classes have begun. Many of the protesting students have also joined.”

The Union HRD ministry, which rushed three-member team of officials to the campus on Wednesday, said students will have an option to appear for the exams later. The exams are beginning on April 11 and will be held as scheduled, the officials said.

Meanwhile, the state government on Thursday ordered a time-bound inquiry into the clashes that have taken place at the campus. The report of the inquiry will be submitted in 15 days.

“We have instituted an inquiry to go into the incidents at the NIT,” deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh told reporters in Srinagar.

“We will resolve this issue at the earliest,” Singh said.

Asked about his controversial comment that students were subjected to ‘mild lathicharge’, Singh said his statement at that time was based on information he had received.

He said the state government will ensure the personal as well as academic security of the students at the NIT.

Meanwhile, two separate FIRs were filed against unknown persons under various sections over the violence on campus on April 1 and 5. To counter allegations of brutality against them by non-local students, the state police released a video showing how students damaged the NIT property and clashed with police personnel on April 5.

The teachers’ association of the institute also came out with a statement in response to allegations by non-Kashmiri students against partiality by the faculty. “The Teacher’s Association of NIT Srinagar strongly refutes the baseless allegations by some students about the partiality and playing with the careers of non-local students,” it said.

A bandh was organised in Jammu region to protest alleged police high-handedness on outstation students at NIT in Srinagar.

The shutdown was called by various groups, including Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP).

(With inputs from PTI)

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