Gurudwaras, socio-cultural group Jammu and Kashmir Students Organisation (JKSO) and reportedly got in touch Khalsa Aid, an international humanitarian NGO, are reportedly helping hundreds of Kashmiri students find refuge and return home.
Per a News18 report, some Kashmiri students were accommodated by Gurudwaras and housing societies in Chandigarh and Mohali, with their food and travel being taken care of by Khalsa Aid. In Mohali, around 40 students were provided lodging at the Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sohana, reported The Tribune.
Following the Pulwama terror attack, there have been several reports of right-wing wing groups such as the Bajrang Dal targeting and harassing Kashmiris in different parts of the country. Kashmiri students living outside Kashmir have been a particularly vulnerable group, and many have been forced to return to their home state.
A social media user posted pictures on Monday, February 18 of Kashmiri students being lodged at a Gurudwara in Chandigarh where Khalsa Aid had arranged transport for the students to return home.
Parsa specifically thanked Amarpreet Singh, Director, Asia Pacific, Khalsa Aid and said that transport was being arranged for students who wished to return home. On Monday night, Parsa shared pictures of one group of students heading home.
“When I saw members of Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Organisation are providing help to students facing threats after Pulwama, I followed up with them. We are giving them transportation, food and accommodation. I saw them hungry and scared,” Singh told News 18.
Fixed my heart, restored my faith in humanity and said my thanks.
Zindabaad @Khalsa_Aid
Khudayas Hawale! 💚 pic.twitter.com/rKS57xQqwR— Javid Parsa (@parsa_javid) February 18, 2019
On Tuesday, February 19, Parsa wrote another Instagram post, saying that all the students had reached Jammu and some of them had reached Kashmir. He also posted a contact number for anyone looking for food or accommodation in Jammu.
“The students are extremely worried for their well-being. After the protests broke out, we helped 800 Kashmiri students from Dehradun and some from Haryana,” JKSO president Khwaja Itrat told News18.