Qayoom Khan

Srinagar, February 18: A nocturnal gunfight rages between militants and goverment forces in Pinglan area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday.

Reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of army’s 55RR, CRPF and SOG Pulwama launched cordon and search operation in Pinglan area after having credible input about presence of some militants in the area.

As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot the hiding militants fired upon goverment forces triggering an encounter.

A senior Police official told GNS that a brief exchange of firing took place between militants and goverment forces. However this time there is complete silence.

The officer further said that we have tightened the cordon so that militants don’t escape from area.(GNS)

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 17: In the aftermath of Pulwama incident, there have been certain reports of alleged harassment of students from J& K studying outside the state.

It may be recalled that the J&K Government has already appointed Liaison Officers (LOs) at six regions across India including Delhi NCR-Meerut, Jaipur-Bhopal, Chandigarh, Aligarh, Bangaluru and Pune in order to coordinate with the students of J&K studying in and around these regions since November 2018. The students in these regions have been advised to get in touch with these LOs in case they face any problem. These LOs are supposed to coordinate with respective college authorities and local administration in case there is any issue to be resolved. Since these LOs have already been in place for last 3 months, so all of them have already circulated their respective contact numbers to the students and colleges of these regions and some of them have already met many of the college authorities also for building better coordination.

There have been media reports of alleged mischievous WhatsApp chats by some of the miscreants, reports of candle marches and other marches in these regions by the local people, alleged rumors of some of landlords asking their respective tenant students to vacate the houses, resulting in a sense of insecurity and fear in the students.

Responding to this, the LOs of respective regions have been taking necessary steps in the last two days to help the students. Similarly, controls room/helplines have also been established in the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. The LOs immediately got in touch with the students, the college authorities and the local administration so as to ensure safety and security of the students.

Some of the incidents handled by LOs include, one at Maharaishi Narkendeshwar Mullana University, Ambala, where 104 students who were staying in PG locations have been accommodated in 3 hostels of University and these hostels are well guarded by the police as confirmed by local SHO. This region is being coordinated by LO Chandigarh. Another incident handled by LO – Chandigarh has been of Ganpati Institute – Bilaspur. There the Director of the Institute has been spoken to and he has assured full safety and police protection for hostels there.

Further there have been lot of calls from Dehradun students, for whom the coordination is being done by LO-Delhi NCR. There have been numerous calls from students of different colleges including Baba Farid Institute of Tech, Alpine Institute, Dolphin Institute, SBS Medical College and so on so forth.

Regarding Baba Farid Institute, the LO has been assured by the College Administration and SHO – PS Premnagar, that no untoward incident has happened so far and the situation is normal. The college authorities have assured that in case, the outside students are facing any problem they can be accommodated temporarily in their respective hostels.

Some of the students from Dehradun have reached Delhi yesterday evening and they have been accommodated in J&K House Chanakyapuri.

Further around 100 students from Sailakui ( Dehradun) have gathered in Rampur. A visit by SHO and CO has been arranged at the place and further both of them assured their safety and security at that place.

Further LO- Jaipur has confirmed that the situation in Pacific University Udaipur is calm and safe. The students have been advised not venture out of the campus. The Police Commissioner and SP has visited the campus.

The State Administration assures people of J&K that, due cognizance is being taken for each and every call from the students and their parents and local administration is being apprised of the developing situation. The local administration and college authorities of all the locations have given full assurance of complete support, help and safety of the students.

The LOs are of all the regions are in constant touch with locals administration and college authorities and are taking all the calls from students and their parents for their feedback. The state administration is advising all the students and their parents, not to pay heed to any rumors, try to stay put at their respective places and contact the LOs or local police administration for any help. The mobile numbers of LOs have already been distributed amongst the students.