Srinagar parents hold rally, demand safe return of children studying in war-hit Iran

SRINAGAR — Scores of parents assembled in the Bemina area of Srinagar on Monday, appealing to the Government of India to ensure the safe return of their children studying in war-hit Iran.

The parents said they intended to march towards Press Colony to highlight their concerns before the media, but were unable to proceed due to restrictions in place in parts of the city. They gathered peacefully and urged authorities to take immediate steps for the evacuation of students from Tehran and other affected areas.

Several parents said their children are currently studying in the heart of Tehran, which has witnessed repeated strikes amid escalating hostilities in the region.

Expressing deep concern over their safety, they appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and facilitate their evacuation.

The parents alleged that although the Government of India had issued an advisory asking Indian nationals to leave the conflict zone, several students were unable to depart as university and college authorities had not returned their original documents. They claimed that this prevented their children from completing travel formalities in time.

The gathering concluded without any untoward incident. Authorities maintained vigilance in the area while urging families to remain calm, assuring that the matter would be conveyed to the concerned quarters.