Consolation during Conflict: How Students Got to Safety amidst Operation Sindoor
S Shilpa, Sooraj Elamon
DAYS marked by chaos, destruction, panic and uncertainty mark the impact of Operation Sindoor in the border states of India and Pakistan. The unrest, which began on May 7, when India launched an attack targeting various terrorist camps in Pakistan, escalated on May 8 and 9, leading to widespread panic among the population residing near the India-Pakistan border. Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Punjab, being the states that share a border with Pakistan, have been in a state of unrest, followed by attacks and counterattacks by India and Pakistan for the past few days. There were deaths, destruction, displacements and casualties that have resulted in the spreading of terror throughout the country, raising concerns over the safety and well-being of the civilians. These states host hundreds of students from all across India in various central and state universities. The drone attacks and shelling, followed by the initiation of Operation Sindoor, have been a life-threatening event for the students, as the couple of days following the operation have put the student community in a state of uncertainty regarding their safety.
Several students in the universities in Jammu and Kashmir have reported the frequent presence of drones in and around their universities. On May 8, after 10 pm, the students of Central University of Punjab witnessed three drones advancing towards their university premises. There were reportedly two explosions audible from the campus, and one of the three drones was intercepted around the campus. There were regular blackouts all across the borderstates at night, and strict instructions were given not to switch on any devices or vehicles that emit lights during the blackouts.
However, the instructions were not given beforehand, which led to confusion among the students on what to expect during such times. Several of the universities in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Punjab were not equipped with precautionary measures or safety protocols. The irresponsibility of the respective university administrations has been disappointing since there have been no efforts to handle the mental health of the students and their parents by providing confidence in such a sensitive situation. The inefficiency on the part of the respective local and university authorities in handling the situation has affected the students in unfortunate ways. The responsible officials, including vice chancellors and deans of student welfare, have already fled the institutions, leaving the students behind to figure out their own way. This is nothing more than a cowardly move to escape the accountability of any disaster that may fall upon the student community.
The Students’ Federation of India has been active since the beginning in assisting the students with reaching safety. On May 9, immediately after the drone incident, SFI all India secretary and joint secretary visited the Central University in Bathinda, Punjab. Bathinda is one of the many areas that are close to the border. While in districts including Ferozepur that come directly into contact with LoC, classes were suspended soon after the launching of Operation Sindoor, there has not been any notification regarding the events in the universities and colleges in other parts of Punjab. Central University of Punjab, Jammu and Rajasthan have a considerable number of students from farther parts of India, including South and Northeast. The sudden hostility has affected the student community drastically since a huge mass of students were meant to be evacuated to safe spaces.
It is in such an unstable and uncertain situation that the SFI took upon itself the responsibility to help all students suffering in border regions and affected areas reach safety. Students, especially those living in the border states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, were in a state of extreme panic and confusion. Students in Delhi, who have their family members in the violence-torn regions, were also in extreme distress. In this context, the SFI Delhi state committee had released a student helpline to assist and ensure the safety of all the students in distress. Since the release of the helpline, SFI has received hundreds of calls from students studying in universities in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and other border regions, requesting assistance and accommodation in Delhi. Students stranded in various universities across Punjab and Jammu were also brought to safety by the engagement of SFI in arranging transportation to Delhi from their respective university centres.
On May 9, 2025, hundreds of students from these states had boarded special trains and buses to New Delhi as the situation had gone beyond control. Students in large numbers had boarded trains and buses with complete uncertainty as to what awaited them further. Most students had no arrangements ready as to what to do once they reached Delhi, or had any plans as to what to do to reach their homes safely. Many of the students had approached the SFI Delhi helpline requesting help and support in the emergency situation. Meanwhile, the SFI Kerala state committee also announced that they would sponsor the amount required for the Keralite students' tickets to reach home.
Accommodation facilities for all the students were immediately arranged at the Harkishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan, the Central Party School of CPI(M). SFI Delhi state committee leadership were also present at the New Delhi Railway Station to receive the students from Jammu University, while students from various universities in Punjab directly reached the Bhawan through bus facilities. M A Baby, general secretary of CPI(M), was present at the HKS Surjeet Bhawan to welcome all students and ensured them with complete support until their transport back home. Food for these students was arranged by Janasamskriti, the organisation of Keralites living in Delhi. John Brittas, Member of Parliament, visited the students and spoke with them, providing them with confidence.
Concrete efforts were also taken to ensure the transport of students stranded in Jammu and Kashmir to Delhi as well through serious intervention from the side of Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami, MLA and Central Committee member of CPI(M), and Jammu Kashmir Students’ Federation.
SFI central executive committee had submitted a request to the railway minister requesting that special train coaches be allocated. Through the efforts of the Kerala state government and the CPI(M) MPs, special train coach facilities for Keralite students were arranged from Delhi. By May 10-11, all 200 students accommodated at HKS Surjeet Bhawan were safely sent to their homes. SFI and CPI(M) leaders were continuously present, ensuring the safety and well-being of all the students who had approached the helpline, from the moment they had landed in Delhi till they were seated in the special train compartments in the New Delhi Railway Station.
The activists of SFI, across the country, spent many tireless days and sleepless nights trying to help the student community that was struggling due to the national crisis. The principles that the progressive movement had instilled in the activists boosted their morale and dedication towards making the initiative a success, even when they themselves were also navigating the situations of uncertainty and confusion. The trained machinery and dedicated cadre base of SFI were able to help hundreds of students to safety. The humanitarian and pro-student politics of the SFI and CPI(M) succeeded in ensuring that no student is stranded in uncertain conditions in a situation of a national crisis.
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