Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 10: An eerie calm prevailed at National Institute of Technology, Srinagar as the authorities strictly enforced Section 144 of CrPC on the campus today, restricting movement of the students since this morning while prominent Bollywood actor Anupam Kher was also stopped by J&K Police at the Srinagar Airport and not allowed to visit the trouble torn NIT.
“There is virtually an undeclared curfew and we are not being allowed to move out of the hostel by the security personnel, who told us that Section 144 CrPC has been imposed on the campus,” informed a non-local student on telephone.
Another student added that earlier there was restriction on their movement in groups but since the evening, not even individuals were being allowed to come out of the hostel while the deployed security personnel were only stating that they had orders for the same from higher authorities.
According to SSP Srinagar, Amit Kumar, Section 144 CrPC was already imposed on the campus since the incident of clash between two groups of students last week but the same has been strictly enforced from today in view of the scheduled examinations and ensure that no body may disturb smooth conduct of the same.
On being contacted by the Excelsior, Registrar of NIT Srinagar, Fayaz Mir also admitted that Police administration has been asked to maintain extra vigil on the campus for smooth carrying out of examinations, which are commencing from tomorrow and the authorities are determined to conduct the same as per schedule.
He also informed that around 60 outstation students have left the campus for their respective homes and arrangements in this regard were made by the NIT authorities following request by these students.
In the wake of restriction on their movement today, the agitating students assembled in the common room and then held a demonstration inside the hostel premises for a brief period as rains forced them to disperse.
These students also held a meeting in the hostel common room and unanimously decided to boycott the Minor Exams, beginning from April 11. “The minors should be postponed and no academic activity would be allowed in NIT till our demands are met,” they resolved and alleged that the authorities were trying to divert attention from the real issues of the non-local students and misrepresenting their demands.
“We are not trying to create any political issue here. Our demands are for ensuring the safety of our academics,” said a student on the condition of anonymity and reiterated the demand of shifting NIT to safer place, action against the anti-national elements in college administration and also action against J&K Police. “Until these demands are met, classes should not resume and the minors be postponed,” he added.
Earlier, the non-local students, both boys and girls, kept protesting throughout the nights. The boys held protest dharna near the Director’s office while girls had assembled near the Fountain Point on the campus. They were continuously protesting for the last two days and had dispersed only this morning for refreshing themselves.
However, the authorities did not allow them to assemble again by strictly enforcing Section 144 through deployed CRPF men and restricting their movement within respective hostels.
Meanwhile, actor Anupam Kher was today stopped by J&K Police at the Srinagar Airport and not allowed to move towards the NIT campus, where he was scheduled to visit for extending his moral support to the non-local students.
He was asked to return to Delhi as Police authorities claimed that there were apprehensions of law and order problems.
“Landed in Srinagar.’HOME’ away from home. Will go to #NITSrinagar & meet the students & give them a warm hug & a special gift. :)” Kher had tweeted in the morning.
“I have been told by J&K Police that I cannot enter Srinagar city at all. I have asked them to show me the orders. Still at the airport,” he wrote again on Twitter.
Anupam Kher said that he was not going to NIT to create problems but to meet the students. “I was going there as a citizen to meet students and give them moral support…If they say this is a law and order situation, I will say millions of people go to university, it’s an open place, why should they stop me,” Kher said at the airport.
“I was not going there to create problems. I was just going there to give them a sense of warmth,” he added.
The Bollywood actor alleged that police did not even allow him to visit his ancestral house or Kheer Bhawani Temple in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. “Asked J&K Police if I can visit my ancestral home or Kheer Bhawani temple. Even that is not allowed. Basically it is #AirportArrest,” Kher tweeted.
From the Airport, Mr Kher also extended his wishes to the NIT students for their scheduled exams besides saluting their nationalism and courage. “Dear#NIT Srinagar Students: Country loves and Salutes ur Nationalism & Courage. Keep it up. Work Hard & Good luck for your exams# Blessings,” he tweeted.
Soon after his return from Srinagar, Anupam Kher posted a pictures displaying National Tricolour in front of a portrait of President Pranab Mukherjee and wrote, addressing the NIT Srinagar students; “My Special gift for you. Aaj Khud Aapko Deta. Koi Baat Nahi, Tiranga To Hamare Dilon Mein Hai”.
In another tweet, he posted a picture of clouds, apparently taken during air travel from Srinagar, and wrote; “My view of Kashmir was cloudy today. But I am sure these clouds will clear one day. Therefore’ll b sunlight)#Optimism.
Meanwhile, agencies quoting HRD Ministry, said that over 55 outstation students have left the
NIT Srinagar campus for their home towns following the unrest while the institute’s Board of Governors will be meeting tomorrow to discuss various issues, raised by the students.
“Over 55 students have left the NIT Srinagar campus. As more students have expressed the desire to leave, the actual number of students leaving could be more. It has been decided that they will be allowed to take exams later,” officials of HRD Ministry said.
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