Tense Valley shuts down over attacks on Kashmiris
Divisional commissioner says states will give adequate security
There have been more attacks on Kashmiri traders and students across the country amid persisting anger over the killing of 40 CRPF personnel in Thursday’s suicide attack near Srinagar. This impelled the vast majority of the people of the Kashmir Valley Sunday to obey the call for a oneday strike over the “disturbing” incidents.
Reports pouring in here from different parts of the country said that Kashmiri Muslims are being evicted and threatened after Thursday’s deadly attack. Kashmiri traders and students have faced a backlash mainly in Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and other states. At some places, Kashmiri students were restricted from universities and colleges and,
at least, one was arrested also for their allegedly making anti- national remarks on social media in the backdrop of the suicide attack.
While the Union home ministry has saud no stone would be left unturned to protect the life
and property of Kashmiris living, working or studying outside their home state, the Jammu and Kashmir government is reported to have approached its counterparts in the states where such incidents have taken place, requesting them to ensure restraint. The J& K government has also appointed liaison officers at all major locations to coordinate with university authorities and local police "to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students", an official spokesman said.
The situation was reviewed here on Sunday at a meeting of officials, which was attended also by Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, the advisor to the governor and Kashmir’s divisional commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan. Mr Khan said that he is in constant touch with the authorities in different states and that they have assured him of providing adequate security to the students. He also said that helplines have been set up by his office and the J& K police for registering complaints and responding to queries of the students and their parents.