Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern over shocking and distressing turn of events, in which three hostels housing students from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and other backward communities in Baramulla district were gutted in separate fire incidents over the past one week. The affected hostels include the KGBV Hostel at Fathepora, the Phadi Hostel at Fathepora, and the Gujjar Hostel in Ushkara.
Senior Party Leader and District President Baramulla Mohd Rafique Rather said that
The three repeated fire incidents have left dozens of underprivileged students homeless, raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being.
Rafique Rather expressed grave concern over the incidents and demanded an impartial, time-bound inquiry to ascertain the cause of the fires.
“It is extremely disturbing that three ST hostels have been devastated by fire in such a short span. This cannot be brushed aside as mere coincidence and must be thoroughly investigated,” Rather said.
Pertinently, the authorities were reportedly mulling an audit of these hostels. “But before any audit could take place, all three hostels were dashed to dust. I smell foul play, which needs to be looked into in detail,” Rather added.
Rafique Rather urged the district administration to treat the matter as a humanitarian crisis and make immediate arrangements for the shelter, safety, and continued education of the affected students.
“The government must ensure a transparent investigation to rule out any foul play, and in the meantime, extend full support to the students who have lost everything in these fires,” he said.
Rather also appealed to civil society organizations and local residents to come forward in support of the affected students during this difficult time.
