Pahalgam Terror Attack: Kashmiri students forced to vacate Prayagraj; UP govt assures strict action

NEW DELHI: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has raised serious concerns over the safety and well-being of Kashmiri students residing in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh as fear and anxiety grows in the wake of the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 28 people on Tuesday afternoon.

The students’ group in a statement said that it has been receiving distress calls from Kashmiri students and youth, studying and working, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Landlords have forced them to vacate citing security reasons.

“Some have already left under pressure. This is alarming. Prayagraj is a sensitive region, and there are growing fears of harassment and profiling,” JKSA said.

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The association urged the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to take action immediately for the safety of Kashmiri residents in his state. “Fringe elements must not be allowed to target innocent Kashmiris. Their safety, dignity, and right to reside anywhere in India must be protected,” J-K Students Association said.

Following this, the students told Careers360: “The Uttar Pradesh government has assured that strict action will be taken against those trying to vitiate the atmosphere or spread fear among innocent Kashmiris. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and stand by the students to ensure their safety, dignity, and equal treatment.”

“No one should be made to feel like an outsider in their own country,” it said, adding that “the right to reside, study, and work anywhere in India is enshrined in our Constitution. Any attempt to infringe upon this right, especially through coercion or communal profiling, must be condemned unequivocally.”