At least 59 Afghan students studying in Orissa left for Delhi to meet embassy officials on Tuesday after they reportedly felt insecure following a clash on January 13 in which one of them was hurt. The students of the Ravenshaw University at Cuttack, about 26 km from here, reportedly decided to leave after a clash broke out between them and local students inside the university campus over a trivial issue. Three local students and one Afghan student were hurt in the incident. “We are not satisfied with the measures. We will decide our future course of action after holding discussions with our leaders at New Delhi,” an Afghan student told reporters before leaving the city. However, police refuted the allegations. “We had arrested the student union president in the matter and provided adequate security to the students,” Police Commissioner B.K. Sharma told the sources. “The Afghan students had some adjustment problem. They were trying to get out since past one year,” he said, adding that two Afghan girls are also staying in the hostel and without any problems. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “I have sought a full report on the matter. The vice chancellor has already advised them to return. We will certainly take care of their safety.”
