Bhat Yasir
Uncertain about their future, two Kashmiri students Nabeela Islam and Iqra Maqbool returned home to the Kashmir valley on Wednesday. The two, second semester students of B. Sc Nursing were illegally discharged by Hakim Kishori Lal College (HKL) College of Nursing for not wearing black shoes, as recommended by the college in Guruharsahi area of Ferozpur in Punjab.
The incident dates back to November 09, when students had left for clinical trial early morning at 06:30 am, and the college authorities allegedly did not allow two Kashmiri students to go for the clinical trial since they were not wearing black shoes.
Nabeela Islam and Iqra Maqbool, the two Kashmiri female students alleged that the college authorities made them sit in the canteen from 6:30 am to late night until 11 pm . “They did not even allow us to change our uniform for the entire day,” Nabeela, one among the two students said.
In conversation with The Kashmiriyat, the students said that their black shoes were torn.
“We visited CEO Sameeksha Gupta’s office, who asked us to show her our old shoes (Black) so she could see if the shoes were really torn. When we brought our shoes, at first she didn’t bother to look at them,” Nabeela said. Later when the duo was finally allowed to enter her office, Sameeksha Gupta allegedly told them to “hit her face with their shoes.”
The CEO further told the duo, “Your attitude is not good. I can’t keep you here, you must go home,” as per Nabeela. She also said that Ms. Gupta had asked Iqra to leave for home since she wasn’t medically fit.
The next day, both the students said, they were in the hostel. And that, at around 6:15 pm, the CEO called and told them to “leave the college and return to Kashmir.”
“She has handed over our documents to a senior student,” said Iqra. “If she didn’t want to kick us out, then why did she hand over our documents to a senior student?” questioned Nabeela.
The students said that while they were leaving for home with the packed luggage, the college authorities asked them to give it to them in written that they were leaving at their own will. “How could we write that we were leaving on our own when we have been forced out?” they asked.
Dr Kulbeer Singh Sandhawalia, who has been working actively on the case spoke to The Kashmiriyat, and said that the two were made to stand separately in the queues. “They have paid their fees in advance, and despite that the students have been forced to leave,” Kulbeer Singh said.
Dr. Sandhawalia said that after he uploaded the video about the two girls, he received several messages from students studying in the college. One of the Kashmiri students in her message, Kulbeer said, told him that the college harasses Kashmiri students. “We are being asked to remain silent, otherwise they will name us in some anti-national activities case,” one of the students allegedly told Kulbeer.
He said that Kashmiri parents should not send their wards to such colleges.
“Hamare sath waha bohat zayada torture ho raha tha (We were tortured a lot there.),” Nabeela alleged. “Our career is at stake,” the students said.
The students alleged that Adnan Wani, a consultant based in Srinagar, who has facilitated their admission was now telling the students that he “does not know them”.
He told them that he has not procured their admission and has nothing to do with the college, as per Nabeela. However when The Kashmiriyat talked to Adnan Wani, IA Education Services in Srinagar, he agreed that he has procured their admission. He further went on to claim that he had ‘discontinued’ his services with the college in the month of April this year.
“I tried to get in touch with college authorities (Ma’am) but they aren’t responding to my calls, ” Adnan said, adding, “I left the issue on our association namely Career Counselors Association J&K.”
“Before the month of April, whenever there was an issue with the students in the college, I would call them and resolve the issue but this time they’re not receiving my call,” Adnan said.
Adnan also claimed that the association had blacklisted this college.
President of the same association, Ishfaq Ahmad, said that the college authorities had told Adnan Wani at the time of service discontinuation that his students weren’t following rules and regulations. “Our association is also looking at this incident. We have sent our members from Punjab there. Let’s see what they will do,” Ishfaq Ah. said.
The Kashmiriyat called the HKL official several times, but got no response. Yesterday, the CEO in a text message said “I am busy right now. Kindly message me your free time slots, so that I can contact you in my schedule.” The CEO hasn’t responded since she was sent the time slot.
(The story will be updated once the CEO responds.)