The regional political parties in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have strongly condemned the assault on Kashmiri students at Desh Bhagat University (DBU) in the Indian state of Punjab. The students held protests against the university’s decision to clandestinely transfer their registrations to an unapproved Sardar Lal Singh College located within the DBU campus. These students, majority of them from occupied Jammu and Kashmir, were enrolled in the university for the 2020 academic session to pursue nursing courses.

A video of police subjecting the protesting students to heavy lathi charge has gone viral on social media. The video shows numerous female students injured and many unconscious due the police’s brutal action. President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, denounced the lathi charge on the protesting Kashmiri female students at the DBU. “Lathi charging Kashmiri students and misbehaving with girls for protesting against a university that’s wrecked their future is completely uncalled for,” she wrote on X, formerly twitter.

Indian National Congress senior leader in IIOJK, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, in a statement expressed grave concern over the attack on the students in DBU. He said the universities should not be used to intimidate students on colour, region or religion basis, as these are meant to build students’ careers and impart quality education. He urged the Punjab government to take strict action against the management of DBU for intimidating the students. National Conference spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar, in a statement said the physical assault on the Kashmiri students is a grim reminder of how they continue to face the brunt of targeted attacks even by uniformed men. “Girl students were thrashed brutally for no fault of theirs. This is unacceptable and should be condemned by all,” he said, demanding a thorough and fast-track investigation into the matter.

Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Front Hakeem, Muhammad Yasin, in a statement also condemned the use of brute force by police on the Kashmiri students. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) Convener, Nasir Khuehami, has written a letter to the Indian Union Minister for Health and Medical Education, Mansukh Mandaviya, and Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, over transfer of Kashmiri students enrolled in various paramedical courses from DBU Punjab to Sardar Lal Singh College without their consent. He urged them to ensure the preservation of these students’ registrations. “We demand justice for these students who have been unjustly caught in this predicament,” he said.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)