Days after Doon college suspends Kashmiri dean, it says ‘took action under pressure of mob, dean can come back’

Dehradun

: The authorities at a Dehradun-based private institute, which had suspended its Kashmiri dean after a protesting mob demanded it, said on Tuesday that they had taken the action under pressure from the agitating crowd and that the suspension order was not a valid one. Anil Saini, owner of Alpine College of Management and Technology, told TOI that the dean has already been asked to resume his duties “as soon as the tension in the city defuses”.

Following the terrorist attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, right-wing outfits in Dehradun allegedly thrashed Kashmiri students as well as protested outside colleges which have a number of students enrolled from the valley. Over 200 Kashmiri students have already left Dehradun. While some have returned to Kashmir, many have been provided shelter in Chandigarh by an NGO.

On Saturday, a crowd comprising members from right-wing outfits had protested outside the Alpine college demanding that Aabid Majeed Kuchay, dean (academics) at the institute, be fired as he was a Kashmiri. Saini told TOI on Tuesday that they had to give in to the demand of the mob as they were worried for their safety.

“Fifteen cops were present at the institute when a crowd of over 300 people entered the campus. After police said that they won’t be able to protect us from the mob, we issued suspension orders for the dean to avoid any untoward incident,” he said. Saini was quick to add that the suspension was not valid and that he has asked Kuchay to resume his duties soon.

Kuchay confirmed to TOI over phone from Kashmir that he has been asked to join back. “After I was suspended, I left for Kashmir. I will return once the situation is normal,” he said.

Notably, the institute had also given in writing to another mob on Friday that it would not admit Kashmiri students from the next session. Saini said that the written undertaking was given to appease the crowd and no such decision had been taken by the management. Nearly 125 Kashmiri students are enrolled in various courses at the institute.