At least 59 Afghan students of Ravenshaw University in Cuttack today left for New Delhi alleging lack of security in the campus.
The Afghan students pointed out that security provided to them by the local police was not satisfactory after they were brutally assaulted by local students led by University Students’ Union president on January 13.
Two Afghan students had suffered serious injuries while five others were left with minor injuries in the group clash.
Meanwhile, chief minister Naveen Patnaik has asked for a complete report on the development from the university authorities.
Although the police had assured two Afghan embassy officials who visited the campus on January 14 that adequate security would be provided to the Afghan students, they were not satisfied with police arrangements.
“Our safety here was always a threat as we were constantly heckled by local students. But the situation on January 13 turned volatile and we feel both the university authorities as well as the local police did very little to pacify the tense atmosphere inside the campus”, said Abdullah Khodadad, an Afghan student who was doing MA in journalism here.
At least, 78 foreign students, 69 of them from Afghanistan, were studying here under culture exchange programme of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
The remaining 10 Afghan students are likely to leave the city on Wednesday, the sources said.
University authorities, however, said that the students had gone to New Delhi for a meeting with embassy officials and ICCR authorities.
"We will take all measures to bring back the Afghan students who joined the university in 2009 as they have only six months left to complete their respective courses", said registrar of the University, Samarpriya Mishra.
