Srinagar/New Delhi: Asserting that the safety of the students at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar was her prime concern, Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said that her ministry officials are in the varsity campus to ensure that all of their issues are looked into.
"Law and order is a state subject. I have spoken to Mehbooba Mufti, she has assured me that students are safe there and that a division level inquiry has been initiated. Some students are worried about their marks sheets. HRD officials are in the campus and they have spoke to over 500 students," she said.
"(We) will not let any injustice happen to students. Our officials are there to extends all possible help to students, they will stay there the exams are over," she added.
Meanwhile, the HRD minister has altered her scheduled visit to the NIT campus in Srinagar on April 13. She will now be visiting the campus on Thursday.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also assured that all necessary measures to maintain order at the campus in the aftermath of the incident were being taken. "J&K CM has issued all necessary directions to provide security to the students and also assured me the same," he said.
Students want Tricolour back, campus shifted
The two-member fact finding panel of HRD Ministry reached the National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus in Srinagar yesterday and held talks with protesting students. During the talks, outstation students demanded that they want the institute shifted out of Srinagar and want action taken against policemen who lathicharged student protesters late on Tuesday evening.
"And we want our national flag back from the police," a student told the HRD Ministry panel amid loud cheers from fellow students.
Agitating students allege the police attacked them during a silent march and that they confiscated the national flag from them. They also also demanded that the police withdraw the allegation that they threw stones at them, which they say is completely false.
On Tuesday, students of the institute who are from outside Kashmir, clashed with the police at the institute's gate when they were prevented from leaving the campus. The police used batons and several students were injured. The police have alleged that the students attacked cops with stones.
Students said that the exams scheduled from Monday be postponed to allow them to go home. "Let us first go home and then we'll go to any other place you send us," a student said.
Trouble erupted at the NIT after India lost the World T20 semi-final match to West Indies on March 31. Some engineering students from outside the state claimed Kashmiri students had chanted anti-India slogans and burst firecrackers after India lost.
