‘Leave or else’: Hate video forces Kashmiri students out of colleges in Uttarakhand
Dehradun: In response to a threatening video circulating on social media, in which a Hindu Raksha Dal leader warned Kashmiri Muslims to leave Uttarakhand by 10 a.m. or face consequences, Dehradun Police have stepped up security and removed 25 inflammatory posts online.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Lalit Sharma, a Hindu Raksha Dal leader, stated in the video that they are hurt by the incident which took place in Pahalgam. “If we see any Kashmiri Muslim in the state after 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, we will give them the right treatment. Tomorrow, all our workers will leave their homes to give this treatment to Kashmiri Muslims. We won’t wait for the government to take action,” he warned, reiterating that Kashmiri Muslims will face unimaginable action if they do not leave by 10:00 a.m.
The threat prompted immediate concern among Kashmiri students studying in Dehradun. A student at Doon PG College noted that at least five Kashmiri students had already abandoned their exams and left for the airport. “Fifteen students have an exam today and we have come to the college. They were getting threats from right-wing groups,” TIE report quoted him as saying.
Similarly, a second-year BSc student at BFIT Dehradun mentioned that he and his friends booked an evening flight on Thursday after receiving the ultimatum. He shared that their professors advised them to relocate to a safer area 50 km away. “They were thinking of sending us to Chandigarh but we decided to leave the campus at around 2:00 a.m. on Thursday and take a flight to Delhi. Our professor gave us his car and guard,” he said. The student added that they will stay in Kashmir till September as their summer break will begin soon.
Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh assured that local law enforcement is in direct contact with college deans and wardens to guarantee the safety of Kashmiri students. “All are assured of security, and anyone breaking the law will face strict action,” Singh was quoted as saying by TIE.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said his government was in touch with governments of states where Kashmiris were allegedly being harassed in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
"The J&K government is in touch with the governments of the states where these reports are originating from. I'm also in touch with my counterpart Chief Ministers in these states and have requested they take extra care," Abdullah posted on X.
8th Incident: Second Open Threat Call.
— Nasir Khuehami (ناصر کہویہامی) (@NasirKhuehami) April 24, 2025
Hindutva outfit Hindu Raksha Dal has once again openly issued threats to identify and physically assault Kashmiri Muslim students in Uttarakhand starting today allegedly in retaliation for the tragic killing of tourists in Pahalgam. Members… pic.twitter.com/9x8V3yy7UD
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
