Afghan student Tariq Piroz in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Jan. 20: Shocked by the departure of 59 Afghan students to Delhi following a clash on the Ravenshaw University campus, the denizens of the Millennium City have decide to act on their own and offer security to foreigners studying here.

Expressing dismay at the turn of events in a city that prides itself on its humane culture, well-known writer Annada Prasad Ray said Cuttack Banchao Committee, a citizens’ body, was ready to ensure the security of non-Indian students studying in the university.

“It is shameful the way foreign students left Ravenshaw University. While leaving, the students said they loved Cuttack and its people. They had to leave because of the inefficiency of the commissionerate police that failed to provide them adequate security,” said Ray, adding that people of the city wanted the students back.

The foreign students left for Delhi on Tuesday after a clash on the campus on January 13 had left three Afghans injured.

Ray is not the only one from this city, which cherishes its humane culture, to have condemned the attack on foreign students. The incident has sullied the image of the city as well as that of the Ravenshaw University, which is an iconic institution.

“Not just foreigners, even local students are not safe at Ravenshaw,” said Chhitaranjan Mohanty, former president Ravenshaw Students’ Union.

Significantly, Ravenshaw vice-chancellor Devdas Chhotray today sought the high court’s intervention “to solve the problems faced by the varsity”. In a joint petition filed with the registrar, he also sought a direction to the state government for deployment of police force for the smooth running of the university.

The petition came in the wake of higher education minister Debi Prasad Mishra’s meeting on Wednesday with the Afghan students at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) head office in New Delhi. During the meeting, which was attended by Afghanistan ambassador Nangualai Tarzi and director general of the ICCR Suresh K. Goel, the minister assured the students full protection from the state government.

One of the students Tariq Piroz, said their future would depend on the decision the officials in Delhi take.

Mishra said special coaching classes would be arranged for the students to help them clear their examination backlog.

Sources said Tarzi expressed satisfaction with the steps taken by the state government and appealed to the students to complete their studies. The students have sought time to respond to the request of the state government and the ambassador of their country.

There was unrest on the campus today with some students demanding police complaint against four students in connection with the agitation that led to the clash.

Sources said steps were being taken by the state government and Ravenshaw authorities to inspire confidence among the foreign students. On the other hand, Afghan students in Delhi continued to give confusing signals.

'Negotiations are on and we hope that a logical decision will be taken. The state higher education minister has discussed the issue with us and ICCR officials,' said Zabih Ghiasy, a representative of the Afghanistan students union from New Delhi. The student added in the same breath that all options were open before them and they may nor may not return to Ravenshaw. ' We may go back to back or take admission in one of the colleges in Delhi,' he said.

The three remaining Afghan students in Ravenshaw appeared anxious. 'We are still living in fear and have not stepped out of our houses after the incident. We will take a final decision soon,' said Kawash Azizi, a BA economics student.