HYDERABAD: The Indian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday evening released an official statement on all their social media platforms — “Situation in Bishkek is normal”. However, an hour after the statement, an Indian student who was about to call this reporter texted: “Someone is knocking on my door... I’m silent... Now, they’ve stopped.”
Describing the situation as “terrible”, the student told TNIE that a mob had just entered one of the men’s hostels inside a government medical university. “Last night, there were police and military personnel deployed outside the campus. But now, there is only a teacher, a warden and a security guard,” the student said.
Soon after the mob barged into the hostel, police reached the spot and dispersed the locals. “But this has left us mentally depressed. We were told not to go outside; but we are not safe inside the campus also,” said a female student, who lives in the same campus.
As the Embassy has not specified a time limit for the ‘stay indoors’ advisory, a student living in a private accommodation expressed concerns about the safety of those residing outside the campus. “If anybody steps out for groceries, they are getting beaten up,” he said, adding, “The situation might have improved in some places but that is because most people are locked indoors. But how long will you stay inside?”
Meanwhile, another student told TNIE, “Some of them ask locals where they could find Indian students, then they enter the apartment and beat them up. My friend sustained deep wounds but they took away the phones so we do not have much evidence.”
While the Embassy has shared emergency contact numbers, students allege that the authorities are not answering their calls. “I have been trying to call them since Saturday night so we can request them to increase our security. But they’re not picking calls,” shared a UP-based student.
“When they did pick a few calls, they told us to get in touch with the contractors. But our contractors are asking us to reach out to the Embassy. What do we do?” he asked.
Even as the students are living in fear amidst the mob situation, they are worried about their impending exams. “The final term exams are just around the corner. But as of now, there is no clarity on when the exams will be conducted and if it is through online or offline mode,” a group of students told TNIE.
According to the students, the fifth-year students are mandated to take up their final examinations through the offline mode. But considering the current scenario, their university administration is puzzled. “The administration is telling us they have contacted the MCI to see if online exams will be considered to receive a valid degree certificate,” they said.
While some Indian students have already left Kyrgyzstan, there are others who are apprehensive about their travel to the airport. “There are other countries who are evacuating their students from the city. All I’m asking is for our Embassy to provide security till we reach the border or the airport,” one of the students said.
“While the situation has improved in some areas, the students are still not able to come out of their accommodations,” the All Foreign Medical Graduates Association told TNIE and added, “Ever since the violence started, over a 100 students reached out to us saying it is not safe and the Embassy is not providing proper assistance to them.”
Worried about exams
Even as the students are living in fear, they are worried about their exams. “The final term exams are just around the corner. But as of now, there is no clarity on when the exams will be conducted and if it is through online or offline mode,” a group of students said