Students protest after scuffle at NIT Srinagar, video goes viral

SRINAGAR : A group of non-local students of first year at NIT Srinagar held a protest on Friday, following an altercation with Kashmiri students on Thursday night. A video of the protest also went viral on social media.

The students staged a dharna in front of director Rakesh Sehgal’s office, who was in Delhi for the institute’s budget meeting. The students demanded a meeting with the director to hear them out. Students and officials said the protests were triggered after an altercation between a student from Bihar and a few Kashmiri students staying in Indus hostel on Thursday evening.

“It was a minor issue which is common in hostels. The non-local students protested outside the director’s office. The teachers are present there and the deputy commissioner is also talking to the protesters. They are freshers and need some counseling,” said registrar of the institute, Nisar Ahmad Mir. A first year B.tech student, requesting anonymity said, “The student from Bihar was studying in his room and a few Kashmiri students were making noise outside. The student objected as he was getting disturbed which triggered a scuffle.”

“The local students beat the Bihari student following which, we tried to complain but the director was not available,” he said. Mir said the director is returning to the institute on Saturday. Meanwhile, the examinations going on inside the campus were held without any issues.

Srinagar DC Syed Abid Rasheed Shah said, “It was a scuffle between two students which has now been sorted. The students have left for the hostel to have dinner.”