Dehradun: A number of Kashmiri students in the city alleged on Saturday that they were being asked to vacate their rented accommodation by their landlords who had been threatened by right-wing groups. Nasir Khuehami, spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Organisation of Uttarakhand told TOI that “over 50 students hailing from Kashmir were forced to vacate their houses.” “Drenched in rain, many students from Dolphin College, Baba Farid Institute of Technology and other institutions were forced to roam the streets on Friday night. The police however have been supportive and helped the students to find accommodation. But they are in fear and hence leaving the city at the first available opportunity,” he alleged.A student who was forced to leave his accommodation, told TOI, “We are a group of 10 students from Kashmir staying in a private hostel. Our landlord claimed that he was getting threat calls from fringe organisations. We have therefore vacated the hostel and moved to a friend’s place.”Another student who did not wish to be identified, added, “We never felt so unsafe in Dehradun.”A group of students living in Ganesh Hostel said they were supported by “a few Hindu friends who convinced the landlords that nothing untoward will happen.”“We are thankful to our friends who have helped us in this crucial situation,” said a student who studies in Baba Farid Institute of Technology.Speaking to TOI, Ashok Kumar, director general (law & order), said that none of the Kashmiri students had left the city because of threats. “They have left because their holidays have started,” he claimed.The students however said that this is the beginning of the first semester in many colleges and no vacations were going on.Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad members meanwhile alleged that they will “not let any Kashmiri live in Dehradun”.Vikas Verma, convener of Bajrang Dal who claimed to have staged demonstrations outside city hostels till 2 am on Friday, said, “We have information that Kashmiris are operating sleeper cells in the city and we will not let them live here.”Notably, the Centre on Saturday had asked all states to ensure safety and security of the students and people from Jammu and Kashmir living in their areas in the wake of threats to them.The advisory came hours after home minister Rajnath Singh assured an all-party meeting of “doing the needful for the protection of Kashmiri students and people who were allegedly threatened” after the terrorist attack in Pulwama in which 44 CRPF jawans were killed.

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