Kashmiri Student Leaves BITS Pilani After Abuses Scrawled in Room

“My career demands that I go back but my conscience does not allow me to,” Soni said.

A 27-year-old Kashmiri researcher at the premier BITS Pilani in Rajasthan has left for home after alleging that he was threatened by some unidentified persons, barely three weeks after joining the institute. He was subject to racial slurs, owing to his Kashmiri heritage.

Hashim Sofi, who hails from Bandipora district of Kashmir, had told the hostel's chief warden that on Friday morning he had found the door of his room and his clothes inked with threats and abuses.

Hashim was shocked to see slanderous messages written on his door at the Malviya Bhawan hostel, whose inmates are research scholars, proclaiming him a terrorist because of his Kashmiri origins.

A group of people were standing outside. I had an argument with them and asked them why they were doing it secretly rather than saying it to my face.

Sofi to The Telegraph

Following the incident, BITS Pilani administration has ordered a probe.

"The student had met the chief warden... Today, we learnt that the research scholar was not in his room and left without informing the project investigator and institute authorities.”

The institute has taken serious note of the matter and has asked standing committee on student affairs to investigate the matter and submit a report swiftly.

Giridhar Kunkur, media co-ordinator, BITS Pilani

Sofi had joined as a Junior Research Fellow in pharmacy, science and engineering research board (SERB).

(With inputs from PTI.)