News of the Day – Facing threats, abuses, Kashmiri students return to Valley

CRPF receives distress calls from Kashmiris.

Apprehending physical and verbal attacks from frenzied groups in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, around 100 Jammu and Kashmir students from various colleges across north India, mostly from Dehradun in Uttarakhand, have returned to the Valley.

The police control room in J&K received 50 distress calls in the past two days.

The CRPF received distress calls from Kashmiris in Jammu city, Maharashtra and Dehradun, seeking assistance, a senior government official told The Hindu.

The J&K administration also informed the MHA that most of the distress calls were coming from Dehradun and Ambala in Haryana.

A few Kashmiri students and residents were also booked for posting messages celebrating the Pulwama terror attack on social media.

After reports of attacks on Kashmiris emerged, the CRPF on Saturday issued an advisory and said all such students and residents could contact its toll free helpline Madadgar-14411 for speedy assistance in case of any “difficulties or harassment.”

The helpline was established in 2017 to help local Kashmiri population. The Home Ministry had issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories on Saturday to ensure the security and safety of Kashmiri students and residents.

“Over 24 hours since Saturday evening (till Sunday) we received 22 calls from Kashmiris. Some sought security due to apprehensions of harassment. A few families in Jammu requested for food items as they have not been able to go to markets which are shut due to curfew. Representatives from the nearest CRPF unit and offices in Jammu were sent to these callers with food and other essentials,” an official said.

Nasir Khuehami, a spokesperson of the J&K Students Organisation, said in the past three days their helpline (9915378749) received 800 calls from Kashmiri students and their parents. “Most calls are coming from Dehradun. Many students were thrashed by members of the Bajrang Dal and the VHP. The police are helping us and so far 100 students have returned to their homes. I stayed in Dehradun for four years but never witnessed something like this before. No one treated us as an outsider,” Mr. Khuehami said. He said the student body had set up a temporary shelter in Chandigarh.

Ashok Kumar, Uttarakhand ADG (Law and Order) said police pickets and patrolling have been enhanced near all the educational institutions and hostels in Dehradun.

“We are bound by the constitution and we are ensuring safety of all Kashmiri students in Dehradun. We are also taking action against anyone expressing anti-India and anti-national sentiments. We are appealing to both sides, those taking out processions that it should be peaceful and asking the other side to exercise restrained view,” said Mr. Kumar.

Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) tweeted, “Security has been strengthened all across the National Capital including minority dominated areas. Visibility of police personnel has been increased. We’ll ensure the safety and security of every citizen including Kashmiri inhabitants and students living in Delhi.”

Prince Salman’s visit to India a historic opportunity to strengthen ties: Saudi envoy

Prince Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia’s defence minister, will arrive in India on February 19 on his first official visit.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to India presents a “historic opportunity” to expand collaboration in all sectors, the Gulf country’s envoy here said on Sunday.

Prince Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia’s defence minister, will arrive in India on February 19 on his first official visit. Counter-terrorism and energy security are expected to top the agenda for discussions during the trip.

Besides holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu during his two-day visit.

Cooperation in counter-terrorism is likely to figure high on the agenda of his talks in New Delhi as the visit comes following the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in which 40 CRPF men were killed.

Saudi Arabia had strongly condemned and the attack.

Prince Salman has embarked on a four-country Asian tour that besides India, also includes Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia.

“Saudi Arabia and India share age-old ties of friendship that are deepening with each passing day. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to India is highly anticipated and presents a historic opportunity to expand collaboration between our two friendly countries in all fields,” Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to India Saud Mohammad Al Sati said. Under Prince Salman’s leadership, Saudi Arabia is at the cusp of path-breaking transformation, he said. “In our common pursuit for development and stability, Saudi Arabia sees India as an important strategic partner and valued friend,” Mr. Sati said.

Investments, defence and security, including counter-terrorism and renewable energy, are the key issues which are likely to come up for discussions during Prince Salman’s visit to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said last week.

Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trading partner and the bilateral trade is worth $28 billion. The country supplies 20% of India’s crude oil and the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia is 20 million-strong.

Recently, Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi ARAMCO), in partnership with the Abu Dhabi National Compani (ADNOC) of the UAE, entered into a $44 billion joint venture for the Ratnagiri refinery and a petrochemical project.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also facilitates Hajj pilgrimage of over 1,75,000 Indians every year.

The visit by Prince Salman, who is also the Vice President of Saudi Arabia’s council of ministers, follows the highly successful trip of Modi to that country in April 2016, during which the two sides had agreed to further elevate their existing strategic partnership.

In the recent years, there has been a significant progress in the bilateral cooperation in the key areas of mutual interest, including energy security, trade and investment, infrastructure, defence and security.

SOURCE – THE HINDU

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