More 'surgical strikes' in offing at Kashmir University

Story by  IANS | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 1 Years ago
University of Kashmir
University of Kashmir

 

Srinagar
 
Continuing its exercise to dismantle the 'intellectual infrastructure' created by the secessionists in Kashmir University, the J&K government is contemplating a ban on the Kashmir University Teachers Association (KUTA).
 
An official revealed that KUTA is one of the half a dozen associations that had played an extremely important role in creating and sustaining the ideological-narrative framework necessary for a militant-secessionist network to thrive and succeed in Kashmir's case as part of a well-thought strategy designed by the hostile Pakistani intelligence agency ISI to eventually defeat the Indian state by turning its instruments against itself and making the Indian state finance its meltdown.
 
The secessionist 'infiltration' into this highest institution of learning in Kashmir has a three-decade-long history.
 
Rafi was serving as an assistant professor in the sociology department of the University temporarily. Hardly a week after he got his Ph.D. degree from Kashmir University, Bhat was killed on May 6, 2018, along with four other militants in the Shopian district. Two days before he was killed in an encounter in the Shopian district, Rafi Bhat had put out a series of Facebook posts, which indicated that he had shared his plan to give up teaching and pick up arms with his students. Rafi served as an archetypal example of what had been going on in the University for over three decades. The 'infiltration' of secessionist elements and their ideologues into the various departments and administrative sections has been no secret.

The 'secessionist intellectualism' had found its ultimate seminary in Kashmir University with the shameful murder of its Vice-Chancellor, Mushirul Haq, and his secretary, Abdul Gani Zargar whose bodies were found on April 10, 1990, four days after the duo was kidnapped by the terrorists from their office in the University.
 
Valley's highest seat of learning remained under the de facto control of the secessionists who ensured their control by positioning 'loyalists' at vital positions in academia and administration.
 
The only debate in the inner circles of this University for three decades was whether Kashmir should become independent or merge with Pakistan. Remaining a part of India was out of the question.
 
The radicalization of the University was so complete that even admissions to various departments were done on the recommendation of the secessionist leaders and militant commanders.
 
Shootouts between those who stood for 'independence' and those for a merger with Pakistan were reported from within the campus during the mid-1990s.
 
Intelligence agencies, both Central and state, had mountain loads of input about the radicalization of the University students. As a senior intelligence officer put it, "Those were reports, but not all of them had actionable inputs and whenever we got actionable inputs, we acted". In simple terms, 'actionable input' meant the presence of a militant with weapons or the presence of some communication network or any information about a wanted person hiding inside the campus.

What unfortunately was missed during all the past years was that for creating the 'soldiers of Jehad' you don't need the presence of weapons.
 
The nurseries of 'Jihad' are nurtured in young and intellectually impressionable minds and that was what had been happening in the University.
 
Interestingly, even during the official functions where the chancellor (state Governor) and the vice-chancellor would be present, no student would stand up in deference to the national anthem.
 
The worst part of that story was that even some of the faculty members would also refuse to stand up when the national anthem was being played. The recent dismissal of professor Altaf Hussain Pandit from the University's chemistry department has proved that the intelligence agencies have been able to find what they call 'actionable evidence'. Pandit's dismissal could be the beginning of an operation clean-up, that Lt Governor Manoj Sinha's government has decided to undertake in the University.

Post abrogation of Article 370, two discreet analyses of academic and student activities in Kashmir University have been carried out, said top intelligence sources.
 
These analyses have shown that "Three faculty members have been contaminated to an extent that requires immediate action. "12 faculty members have been found contaminated to a lesser extent that needs a graded response. 24 members of different faculties are contaminated to an even lesser extent who need counseling and observation," intelligence sources revealed.

The intelligence reports have also suggested long-term measures to carry out reforms to ensure a free academic atmosphere in the University and also an atmosphere for recruitment that is free from nepotism, corruption, and favouritism.
Presently, the intelligence agencies are carrying out analyses of the non-teaching staff.
 
What becomes clear from these intelligence reports is that is not a very distant future, the University would see more heads rolling to restore the academic excellence for which the University was once famous.