SSM College students accuse authorities of harassment, financial extortion

July 19, 2025 by News Desk

Faheem Ahmad

Students of SSM College of Engineering in Pattan have accused the institution of imposing hefty fines on those with attendance shortages. According to several B.Tech 8th-semester students who spoke to The Kashmiriyat, the college has demanded payments ranging from ₹8,000 to ₹24,000, depending on the number of classes missed.

“The degree is already financially draining, and now this fine is impossible to bear. If this continues, I’ll have to drop out,” said one student, requesting anonymity. Another added, “They are mentally exhausting us. We feel like ATMs to them.”

Students alleged that when they raised concerns with the college administration, they were met with threats of police action. “They told us that if we speak up, they’ll file FIRs against us,” one student said.

The timing of the fines—during ongoing examinations—has further distressed students. “We are mentally exhausted. How are we supposed to focus on exams when we’re being pressured like this?” another student questioned.

Despite repeated attempts, college authorities did not respond to calls or messages from The Kashmiriyat. The students have appealed to higher education authorities to intervene. “This is not just a financial burden; it is affecting our mental health too. We request urgent action,” they said.

The Kashmiriyat tried to reach the officials at the college, however, despite several attempts, the officials did not respond.