Kashmiri students in Pune flag safety concerns with top cop

Days after two Kashmiri students were assaulted in Haryana, the Valley students and professionals working in Pune have sought an appointment of a “dedicated nodal police officer” to address their issues.

Around 100 students and professionals, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, met with Pune Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla on Saturday and expressed concerns regarding their safety in the city.

The interaction was organised by Sarhad, a city-based education institute cum NGO, working on a mission to provide education to the Kashmiri youth and bring them to the mainstream.

Over 400 students, including girls, from Jammu and Kashmir are pursuing education in Pune at present.

Two students from Jammu and Kashmir were thrashed allegedly by nearly 15 people on February 2 evening in Haryana’s Mahendragarh after Friday prayers. During the interaction with Shukla, Owais Wani, a post graduation student, said youths like him have no one to contact with except Sarhad founder Sanjay Nahar.

“.... If any incident happens with any Kashmiri student or working professional, his or her only point of contact is Nahar Sir. Someone like a special nodal police officer, preferably from J&K, should be appointed in Pune to address the issues of Kashmiri students studying here,” Wani said.

Wani said he was talking to Shukla without any fear now but cannot do so with other police authorities who he might have to approach in case of any incident.

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