NIT students up in arms against CRPF 'occupation'

Ready to move out if govt provides alternative: CRPF
Nishwan Rasool:
Srinagar, August 27: Notwithstanding the inconvenience caused to hundreds of students, paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) continues to occupy some 150 rooms of hostels at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) here.

Out of the total five hostels at the state’s most reputed engineering college: Indus, Chenab, Tawi, Jehlum and Girls hostel, the CRPF is holding 50 rooms in the Tawi hostel while 99 rooms from the Chenab hostel are also under the paramilitary force’s, officials said.

The CRPF replaced the Border Security Force, who had moved into the college premises in 1993.

Last year, the NIT Director took some “positive” steps in favour of students and issued some notifications to the concerned authorities over the condition of the hostels, but to no avail. “Even the central government pressurized the CRPF to vacate the hostel premises, but they didn’t respond. The state government has already expressed its willingness to give an alternate accommodation to the CRPF troops but they are not ready to leave,” an official, who didn’t wish to be named, said

“Some 272 students from the state and outside are suffering due to non-availability of rooms,” the official said, adding that more than 150 hostelites .

The official further added: “More than 150 hostelites are undergoing inconvenience due to CRPF occupation. Presently four students are lodged in one room. This year students from outside Srinagar could not stay in the college hostels due to non-availability of space. There are nearly 300 CRPF personals deployed in college premises and hostels.

When contacted, Srinagar based spokesperson for CRPF, Prabhakar Triphati said, “The accommodation was provided by the state government. We are here to provide security and do not look for for accommodation on our own. We are ready to vacate the premises if the state government provides us an alternative accommodation.”