Srinagar: A scuffle broke out between a group of ousted students and staff members of a nongovernmental organization, which had facilitated their admissions under the prime minister’s scholarship scheme in an Indian varsity.
The brawl broke out during a parent meet held at the NGOs office in Jawahar Nagar area of uptown Srinagar.
Rabia Baaji, who heads the All India Centre for Urban and Rural Development, had organized a meeting of parents of Kashmir students, who were thrown out after they cheered for Pakistan during a cricket match against India earlier this month.
The meet was attained by at least 40 parents. At least 67 Kashmir students were suspended by Meerut’s Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (SVSU) over cheering for Pakistan cricket team after they defeated India in a league match of previously held Asia cup in Bangladesh and were charged with sedition. However, after a public outcry, the sedition charges were revoked, but the students have been booked for creating communal hatred and ruckus.
“I had organized the meet of parents of suspended students so that their career and time could be saved. We were discussing the ways forward. Everything was going well. Besides parents, there were students also,” Rabia – who is also facilitator between varsity and students – told GNS.
She said: “Some parents are of the view that till safety of their wards in the SVSU is not guaranteed, they won’t their wards to the varsity while some students demand migration certificate. “We had also prepared two separate lists,” she added.
“Suddenly a group of around 10 students started ransacking in my office. They thrashed my staff and created mayhem,” Rabia alleged. “These hypocrites can kill me too,” she said.
“These are those students who want migration from the SVSU. They don’t want this issue to get settled,” she said.
The students, who allegedly ransacked Rabia’s office, told GNS that the scuffle broke after her staff ‘thrashed’ them.
“Her staff thrashed us. They beat us and during the scuffle, the furniture and other things in her office got damaged. A member of her staff provoked me. He dragged me and started to ask where is your father,” Aijaz Ahamd, one of the students, told GNS.
While quoting Rabia’s staff member, Aijaz said: “Are you any Don from downtown?”
In the allegations and counter-allegations, Rabia has lodged a complaint in Raj Bagh police station. “I need security and that is why I called police,” she said.
Meanwhile, a parent, who attended the meet, told GNS that until and unless their wards aren’t guaranteed safety, they won’t send them to SVSU.
“I will send my son to SVSU only if his security is guaranteed. So far, nothing has been done in this regard,” Abdul Aziz of Pattan told GNS.
Meanwhile, a senior police official confirmed to GNS that they Rajbagh police received a complaint about the scuffle.
“An official was sent to the NGO office. We are looking into the matter and the details will be shared soon,” he said.(GNS)