SRINAGAR: The J&K government on Thursday ordered a time-bound inquiry into the unrest at NIT Srinagar even as protests by non local students on the campus entered the third day. Police have registered two FIRs on violence in the institute after India’s defeat in the World T20 semi-final.
J&K Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said, “Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar has been asked to conduct the inquiry.” The inquiry committee was asked to submit its report within 15 days. The Minister said the situation in NIT Srinagar was being monitored by the administration, officials of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (UHRD) and the NIT.
“All the issues will be resolved soon,” he hoped. Some non-local students staged a protest on Thursday on the campus, where seven groups of paramilitary forces are deployed. Chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans, the protestors demanded shifting of the institute from the Valley, evacuating non-local students to other institutes, fair conduct of examinations and action against policemen involved in the Tuesday’s lathicharge. State police chief K Rajendra visited the campus to take stock of the situation. He talked with the security officials deployed on the campus and instructed them to ensure the safety of all students.
Police, meanwhile, have registered two separate FIRs in connection with the violence at the NIT campus on last Friday and Tuesday. After India’s defeat to the West Indies in the World T20 semi-final last week, clashes had taken places between local and non-local students.
The first FIR was registered on April 1 and second on April 5. In the FIR, police have invoked sections 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 336 (endangering life of others), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 427 (mischief) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).
The police on Thursday also released video clips showing non-local students, some of them carrying iron rods and sticks, attacking the policemen with stones and damaging property and private cars at the campus during Tuesday’s clashes.
Over 2,000 students are studying in the NIT and of them, about 1,800 are non local students.