by Umar Mukhtar
Srinagar
As authorities have decided to shut the interstate air traffic to fight the coronavirus, 17 Kashmiri students including two girls are stuck at the Bengaluru International Airport with nowhere to go.
The students have arrived in the morning at the airport as they had scheduled flight this afternoon. But they are still there waiting for some sort of help from the JK administration. “We understand the crisis but we have nowhere to go. The hostel authorities have shut the hostels, we cannot go back even there,” said Zahid Ahmad, a student of East Point Medical College.
As the city outside is under lockdown, they cannot even arrange hotels. “We have money with us but we cannot manage hotel rooms or food as everything is shut outside,” said Yawar Ahmad, a medical student at East Point Medical College.
Some students who called Kashmir Life were frightened as they were beaten by the police. “Some of us went outside the airport to bring something to eat, the police there beaten us black and blue and accused us of defying the law and order,” said Zahid Ahmad, a medical student. The students shared the video where a cop was seen beating a student and the pictures with bruises.
Moreover, the students said that the Indigo staff is forcing them to vacate the airport premises where they are currently putting up with their baggage. “We do not know where will we go, the police outside is beating us, the airport authorities are refusing to shelter us. We now appeal to Lt Governor for the help,” said Ahmad.
As this report was being filed, the students are still there waiting for help from the JK administration.
