BITS Pilani requests Hashim Sofi to return; assures security

The BITS Pilani Institute has initiated talks with the family of the Kashmiri researcher who left the campus on Friday and returned to his home after facing abuses and threats.

College has assured security to 27 year old Hashim Sofi and requested him to return and pursue his ongoing research.

This welcoming move from the institute authorities comes a day after the pictures and post of Boy's shirt printed with abuses on the campus went viral on social media sites. College has also released a statement in which they have condemned the act and assured that a fair investigation will take place. Giridhar Kunkur, Media Relations Head at BITS Pilani told DH, "Administration and Committee members want young researcher to return to campus and pursue his research. Senior Faculty members are in talks with his parents. Institute willingly wants to have him back and assure his security. Earlier also when he made a written complaint , he was immediately allotted a new quarter."

Institute constitutes a high level committee

Meanwhile, the institute has also constituted a high level committee to probe into the matter. Six member committee comprises of Vice Chancellor of BITS , Director of BITS Pilan,  Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Dean Student Welfare, Chief Warden and Chief Security Officer. Institute further asserts that his return to campus will make investigation smoother. "When the boy is back in the campus, the ongoing investigation will be carried in his presence and it will be fair and smooth. We assure security to him. This has been first such incident and besides him we have around 30 Kashmiri students studying in other branches and no such report has been lodged", Kunkar added.

Hashim, who went back to his home town Bandipora was unavailable for comment. However, on his last interaction with Deccan Herald on Sunday over phone, Hashim's  parents showed  reluctance in sending their son back to the campus.

Two incidents of assault against Kashmiri youth in Rajasthan in one week

This is the second such incident of badgering against Kashmiri youth studying in Rajasthan in last one week. The incident took place on the same day when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a statement appealed to all states to make sure safety of Kashmiris and released a 24X7 helpline number for Kashmiris living outside Jammu and Kashmir.

Hours after his statement Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje also wrote on her twitter handle that “Kashmiri students are our children. Police have taken prompt action & apprehended the culprits”.

Both statements came in the wake of Mewar University incident, where 8 Kashmiri students were thrashed by the locals outside the campus. Rajasthan police has so far arrested two locals in connection to this thrashing incident.