Kapurthala, April 25: Amid rising tensions following the recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmiri students from Lovely Professional University (LPU) Punjab met with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kapurthala, Gorav Toora, on Thursday to voice their concerns about safety and growing threats against Kashmiri youth in different parts of the country.
The students, deeply concerned by reports of harassment and intimidation targeting Kashmiris, said they felt increasingly vulnerable, especially in the aftermath of the attack which has stoked public anger and backlash. They called on local authorities to step in and ensure their protection.
Student activist Syed Abdul Mohsin Andrabi a PhD Scholar, who has been actively representing Kashmiri students in the Punjab region while speaking to the SSP, stressed the need for proactive security measures and appealed for a more sensitive handling of the situation.
“We are students, not suspects,” Andrabi told SSP Toora. “Our only demand is safety and dignity. The pain of the Pahalgam attack is shared by all of us, but it should not translate into collective punishment for an entire community. We want to be able to walk freely, study peacefully, and live without fear.”
SSP Gorav Toora assured the delegation that the police are fully committed to ensuring the safety of all students, regardless of background, and that any act of communal targeting would be dealt with strictly. “No one has the right to threaten or harass anyone on the basis of identity,” he said. “You are welcome here, and we stand by you.” Significantly, the SSP also assured the students that Section 144 of the CrPC would be imposed wherever necessary to prevent any law and order situation or mob action. He urged the students to stay calm and to immediately report any incidents or threats they might face.
“Punjab has always welcomed people from every background,” SSP Toora added. “We will ensure that continues, and the safety of all students, especially those feeling vulnerable right now, will be our top priority.”
Students from the Kashmir valley, currently pursuing higher education at LPU, also shared their experiences of being subjected to offline and online abuse and subtle forms of discrimination in recent days. Some expressed concern that the national mood, inflamed by recent violence, was creating a hostile atmosphere for them across campuses and cities.
Officials from LPU have also issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to student safety and inclusivity. The university is said to be in regular contact with the police and is taking internal measures to ensure a peaceful environment on campus.
The Pahalgam incident, which claimed several lives, has once again highlighted the precarious situation of Kashmiri students studying outside the region. As investigations into the attack continue, Kashmiri youth across India are appealing for empathy and protection rather than suspicion and scapegoating.
