Kashmiri students in Pune fear dropout spike, say families want them to return home

PUNE: Kashmiri students in Pune, who fear that the current situation may lead to a spike in the dropout rate, have urged authorities to ensure their safety.
The concern came after reports of threats and attacks against Jammu & Kashmir students in Punjab and Uttarakhand after the Pahalgam terror attack.

The student groups will meet Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, they said while Pune has long been regarded as a safe and preferred destination for education, the recent incidents in other places have left their families anxious. Many feared that their parents may call them back.
Mohammad Shafi, a first-year MA student who has been in Pune since 2008, said, "Even though we feel Pune is safe, our families are very scared. The number of calls from worried parents rose sharply after the attack."
Ruqaiya Maqbool, a BA student who has lived in the city for five years, shared similar concerns. She said, "My parents want me to return home, but I don't want to disrupt my education, especially during exams. They struggled to ensure I could study and I don't want to waste their efforts."
She added that her parents were initially hesitant about sending her to another state. The current situation has deepened their anxiety. "Some girls have no choice, but to return home even though they have done nothing wrong," she said.
Aqib Bhatt, who has lived in the city for 20 years, said there are more than 1,000 students from Jammu & Kashmir in Pune.
"After the Pulwama attack, we witnessed a similar backlash. Many students who went back to their home towns never returned. We fear that this trend may repeat this time too. Hence, the authorities must take steps to ensure that both students and their parents feel safe," he added.