A Kashmiri research student of BITS Pilani in Rajasthan was forced to leave the campus after he was badgered by some unknown people.
On Friday, 27-year-old Hashim Sofi returned home to Bandipora in Kashmir after facing abuses and threat to life. Sofi, a junior research fellow at the Department of Pharmaceutics of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) staying at Malviya Bhavan hostel, found threats written on the door of his room and his clothes.
The threats forced him to leave the campus and return to his house in Bandipora district of Kashmir.
“On Friday, I woke up to the threats and abuses inked on the door of my hostel room (MalviyaBhavan). I straight away went to my warden and narrated the incident. He asked me to concentrate on studies.
Later, when I went to my balcony to fetch my dried clothes, I found them painted with abuses and threats. I fail to see why there is such animosity towards Kashmiris,” Sofi, told DH over phone.
Sofi was enrolled under Dr Anirudh Roy and was staying in the campus only since three weeks. Sofi said he again went to hostel superintendent Mahaveer and explained the whole incident.
“The warden told me that there were some miscreants on the campus and I was shifted to a new accommodation by noon. But, when I updated my parents on the developments, they asked me to return fearing my safety,” he said.
Sofi’s parents are happy to see their son back safe, but the young researcher can see his long-yearning dream dying.
“I had worked hard to make it to BITS. But now, I am sure my parents will not send me there again. I will have to work hard again to find another institute,” Sofi said.
Published 23 April 2017, 12:20 IST