Kashmiri students in city feel safe and secure

Ludhiana: With all the war-mongering taking place between India and Pakistan, students from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) studying outside their state are a worried lot, as people become suspicious about them. But in Ludhiana, Kashmiri students studying in local colleges say they feel safe, and there is no undue cause for worry. They shared their views with TOI on the current situation and its fallout.
Riyaz Ul Islam (24), from Shopian district of J&K, said: “I got really worried when all these things were happening. We want peace everywhere, and no war from any side. I am happy to say that despite all the incidents that took place in the past few days, we are feeling safe, because my friends are very much supportive. So, I’m not worried about anything here. It feels so good to be in Punjab. I go shopping and do all other stuff outside my college premises, and I have never felt or faced any kind of problem.”

Prabhjot Singh from Baramullah said. “The people of Ludhiana are very nice. I don’t feel any kind of pressure from anyone — neighbours, friends, other students, and teachers. They are all very supportive, and they never made me feel I’m an outsider. Even after all these incidents, things are just the same as earlier. But I want to thank Khalsa Aid who are helping the Kashmiri students in need. I thank them from my heart that they are helping us, and I wish there should be no war-like situation in the future. Officials from both the countries should sit together and sort out their issues.”

Priya Kumar (19), a B.Tech student, said: “The administration helped us feel safe in the city. The most important thing was to make students feel safe and confident about the situation, as I was scared at first about this war scenario, but IPS Surinder Lamba came to our college, met every Kashmiri student, and gave us details about Shakti app, and how it could help us. Other than that, he also gave us his personal number, that if any kind of incident happens, we could contact him. These gestures show there is no hate between people, so why should war be there? Both the countries should live in peace.”

Aakshi, an M.Tech student from Jammu, said: “I am in Ludhiana for the past 10 months, and everything is the same for me. Nothing has changed after Pulwama. Students and teachers and other localites are as friendly as they were earlier. I am happy that the people of this city are so understanding. Sometimes, parents used to call me and ask me about the situation here, and when I told them about the people here, then they are happy that their children are safe.”

Another M.Tech student, Saima, said: “When attacks on Kashmiri students took place in other places, I received videos on Whatsapp that some colleges in other states were forcing Kashmiri students to leave. So, I got scared, but nothing like this happened here. It’s so safe and nothing has changed even after Pulwama. People are continuing to interact with Kashmiri students. For our security, Whatsapp groups were made by the college administration, which made us feel safe. I want peace in each and every corner of the world, not only between India and Pakistan.”