SRINAGAR: After Pakistan’s win against India in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Kashmiri students studying in various colleges of Punjab were physically assaulted by ‘people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar’.
At Bhai Guru Das Institute of Engineering and Technology in Sangrur, Punjab, several students were attacked and assaulted in their hostel rooms after India lost to Pakistan by ten wickets.
One of the students live-streamed the attack on Facebook while they were being attacked with rods and sticks as the attackers barged into their rooms.
Aaqib, an engineering student from Bhai Guru Das Institute of Engineering and Technology told Free Press Kashmir over the phone that some students from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar barged into their rooms with rods and attacked them.
“We were in our hostel rooms when we heard some noise coming from outside. We went to see what is happening and saw some people attacking Kashmiri students in the other block. They had broken the window panes of their rooms and were continuously shouting ‘you are Pakistanis’,” another student, Shoiab, from the same college said.
“We locked ourselves in our rooms,” he added.
“It was the local Punjabis who came to our rescue. They tried to save us from these attacks,” a student said.
Many other students told Free Press Kashmir that they have talked to the college administration and have been assured that the ‘matter will be taken seriously’.
Atleast six Kashmiri students have been injured in the incident.
Nasir Khuehami, spokesperson for Jammu and Kashmir Student Association told Free Press Kashmir that he has received distressing phone calls from Kashmiri students studying in various colleges of Punjab after India’s defeat in the match.
“The videos I am receiving of these attacks are very distressing,” he said.
“Punjab Police have assured us that they will look into the matter and take strict action against those involved in these attacks,” he added.—(FPK)
