Jammu: Over 300 outstation students of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar staged a protest march in Jammu demanding relocation of the institute. Carrying banners, placards and chanting slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai,' the NIT students along with Jammu varsity students marched towards the Press Club of Jammu.
The students are also demanding withdrawal of all cases against non-Kashmiri students of NIT and are seeking full security for them. The protestors shouted slogans 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'NIT shift karo' and held the rally.
"We were kept hostage in NIT by the authorities and police and not allowed to move out. Somehow we managed to escape from the NIT and reached here", a protesting student said. Students of Jammu University also held protests in support of the NIT students and blocked the road.
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) also held protest demonstration in support of the NIT students. In Katra too, students marched in the town in support of the NIT students demanding withdrawal of cases and security to the students and punishment to cops for cane-charge.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday, dismissed the possibility of relocating the NIT out of the Valley. "Let me make it clear that it is an issue within the institute and please do not give it a colour of local versus outsiders. The Human Resources Development Ministry is looking into the grievances of the outstation students and I am hopeful that it will be resolved soon. As far as demands of some students to shift the NIT campus out of Srinagar is considered, let me make it clear that it won't be possible," she said.
The 56-year-old Mehbooba, who assumed charge of the PDP-BJP government on April 4, called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi, a meeting she described as a "courtesy call".
During the meeting, the two sides are believed to have discussed the present turmoil in the state due to clashes between outstation students and police besides law and order situation arising out of militancy. Sources in the ministry said the Home Minister told Mehbooba that normalcy should be restored at the earliest.
Tension gripped the NIT campus after India lost to West Indies in semi-final in the T-20 cricket tournament prompting some local students to rejoice and burst crackers. This led to protest by outstation students resulting in clashes. Since March 31, the situation inside the campus has been volatile.
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