Srikakulam students in Kyrgyzstan safe
SRIKAKULAM: The family members of MBBS students, who are stranded in Kyrgyzstan, have heaved a sigh of relief after the Indian Embassy, Kyrgyzstan police, university authorities, and Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS) took necessary measures to ensure the safety of Indian students following the outbreak of mob violence against foreigners.
At least 2,000 students, including 250 from Srikakulam district, have been studying MBBS in Kyrgyzstan. An angry mob of locals barged into two universities in capital city of Bishkek, broke the hostel windows, and targeted foreign nationals, including four Indians on the night of May 17.
Fear gripped the family members of students in the district after the videos of the local mob attacking the foreigners in Kyrgyzstan went viral on social media platforms.
Srikakulam MP Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging him to ensure the safety of Indian students and their safe repatriation if needed.
It is learnt that the university authorities have announced holidays for the foreign students, and arranged strict security at the hostels with the help of Kyrgyzstan police to prevent any untoward incidents.
Speaking to TNIE over the phone from Kyrgyzstan, Koppara Niharika of Rajam said, “I am studying third-year MBBS in Bishkek. “A few international students (I am not sure that they are Indians) studying in Kyrgyzstan developed an intense argument with local youth a couple of days ago. It led to clashes between the local youth and foreign students. Subsequently, the angry mob of locals stormed into the universities and targeted foreign nationals, especially Indians and Pakistanis. They attacked four foreign students.’’
“The university authorities shifted the students, who are residing in private houses, to the hostels to ensure their safety. The local police visited our hostel and ensured our safety from the mob violence. As of now, we are safe. The university authorities have also informed us that they will conduct online classes from Monday. The Indian Embassy and APNRTS representatives are in constant touch with us to ensure our safety. I hope the situation will come to normal in a couple of days,” she added.
Speaking to TNIE, Niharika’s father Narasimha Murthy said, “I was shocked after watching the videos of mob attack on foreign students in Kyrgyzstan on social media platforms. I immediately contacted my daughter over the phone. I felt happy after coming to know that she is safe there. It is learnt that all other students from Srikakulam are also safe.”
TDP leader Kimidi Nagarjuna spoke to several students through video call and assured them of all help. In addition, Ram Mohan Naidu, Visakhapatnam parliamentary constituency incharge Bharat, TDP youth general secretary Naga Sravan Kilaru, spoke to the AP students in Kyrgyzstan through Zoom meeting and extended their support.
In another video, a local police officer assured the safety of Indian students, including those from AP, stating that the situation is calming down and the safety of students staying in hostels is ensured.