For numerous Kashmiri students, who are studying in different cities, the nightmare of lockdown that followed August 5, post the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, is far from over.
Many Kashmiri students studying in Dehradun and parts of Punjab have alleged that their colleges charged them late fee and fined them for short attendance as they were not able to manage their academic schedule due to the clampdown in the Valley after Article 370 was revoked, said a report by The Times of India.
The students said they were being charged "random amounts ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 12,000" for failing to submit their fee on time.
The management of the colleges told TOI that "late fee is a norm that has always been in place and Kashmiri students are not specifically being targeted". However, students said that even when they had approached the administration of their institutions citing their concerns, they were asked to "either pay the fine or forget sitting in the exams".
Uttarakhand cabinet minister Madan Kaushik told TOI,?"The matter of harassment of Kashmiri students is a sensitive one and the Uttarakhand government will ensure that these students get all possible help and support."
On Friday evening Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh tweeted: "Will not allow this to happen in my state. It was not the fault of the students and I will ensure that they do not suffer on account of the delay in payment of fee or attendance shortage resulting from the clampdown in Kashmir, which was never in their control."
Irfan Mohammed, a student of B Tech at Maya College in Dehradun, told TOI that earlier his late fee penalty was Rs 8,000 but it has now been increased to Rs 12,000. "My father is a driver in Kupwara. He hasn't earned a penny since the clampdown as there is no work for him in the valley because the situation is still not normal. I am ashamed of asking money from my parents and now if I have to pay Rs 12,000, I don't know where I will get the money from."
He even approached the college administration to let go of the late fine but was asked to either pay or forgo the examinations.
Nasir Khuehami, spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, claimed that like Irfan, there are over 300 Kashmiri students in Dehradun who are being asked to pay late fees and short attendance fines by the colleges.?