'Return of students from outside colleges biggest challenge for Kashmiri society'

Terming the return of Kashmiri students from outside colleges as the "biggest challenge" before the society, Private Schools' Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) and Coaching Centres' Association of Kashmir (CCAK) Friday called for joint efforts to cope up with the issue.

In a joint press conference here, the associations also called for keeping education apolitical.

"Around 3,000 students have arrived and more are coming (in the wake of attacks and harassment over Pulwama attack). It is becoming one of the biggest challenges before us. Majority of these students including girls have been humiliated, intimidated and threatened. There are cases of beatings too.

"At places, colleges have been forced to rusticate the students and police has been pressurised to register cases against them on frivolous charges," G N Var, chairman PSAJK, said.

He said in such a situation the students are not willing to go back to colleges outside the state.

"Even the parents are apprehensive about their wards re-joining the colleges in such an atmosphere. Maybe the situation cools down in some days but nobody is sure about the future. What if a similar situation arises again?