Sikkim demands security for its students studying in Siliguri

Gangtok, Jun 16 (UNI) The Sikkim government has taken up with its West Bengal counterpart the alleged harassment of the Sikkimese students in Siliguri.

Scores of Sikkimese students had returned to the state after being thrashed and openly intimated by the anti-Gorkhaland supporters during the recent violence in the plains, Home Secretary Jasbir Singh alleged here today and said, '' The Sikkimese students are being bracketed along with the GJM supporters. '' The state government had evacuated the students from Siliguri and was taking up the matter strongly with its West Bengal counterpart, he said, adding the students were mostly studying in North Bengal University (NBU) in Siliguri.

State Education Minister G M Gurung said education of the Sikkimese students should not suffer because of disturbances in West Bengal.

'' The NBU has requested us to send back the Sikkimese students to complete their studies and examinations. The University has further told me that it is ready to make arrangements for re-examinations for those, who have missed the examinations, and all other associated matters will be considered. '' However, the Education Minister said there was no question of sending the students forcibly to the NBU.

Meanwhile, parents of some of the students said they would not be sending their wards to Siliguri until things permanently settled down.

The students had demanded security from the Centre and West Bengal government during their study period in Siliguri. They had also made it clear that they were students and not involved in any kind of political movements taking place in the North Bengal region.

He said the Sikkim Government had already written to the Centre and West Bengal government demanding that proper security should be given to the Sikkimese students studying in Siliguri.

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