Fifty nine Afghan students leave Cuttack for insecurity

Cuttack, Jan 18 (PTI) At least 59 Afghan studentsof Ravenshaw university here today left for New Delhi allegingthat they were unsafe as security provided to them by localpolice was not satisfactory, official sources said.

The Afghan students decided to leave the universityfollowing a group clash inside the campus on January 13. TwoAfghan students suffered serious injuries while five otherswere left with minor injuries during the clash.

Although the commissionerate of police had assured twoAfghan embassy officials who had come here on January 14that adequate security would be provided, the Afghan studentswere not satisfied with police arrangement, the sources said.

At least 78 foreign students, 69 of them fromAfghanistan, were studying here under culture exchangeprogramme of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The remaining 10 Afghan students were likely to leavethe city tomorrow, the sources said.

University authorities, however, said that thestudents had gone to New Delhi for a meeting with embassyofficials and ICCR authority.

"We will take all measures to bring back the Afghanstudents who joined the university in 2009 as they have onlysix months left to complete their respective courses", saidits Registar, Samarpriya Mishra.