After weeks of protests and curfew in Kashmir, there was an unusual flurry on the roads leading to Srinagar and on the city’s streets early on Sunday.
Thousands of candidates for the Common Entrance Test from Kashmir’s districts made their way to Srinagar’s Tourist Reception Centre, where they boarded state buses that took them to their exam centres across the city.
The Common Entrance test is conducted by the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations for admissions to medical and engineering courses to colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. More than 10,000 candidates sat for the test.
While several candidates arrived at the Tourist Reception Centre from outside Srinagar in jam-packed buses and taxis provided by the government, others arrived in their cars, autos and others on foot.
Candidates from outside Srinagar had woken up as early as 3 am to reach designated spots to catch buses to the summer capital.
Scores of candidates, some with parents, gathered at the gates of the Women’s College in Maulana Azad Road in Srinagar. Squatting on the steps and footpaths, they skimmed through their notes in one last attempt to revise.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who arrived at the Women’s College later in the day beat a hasty retreat after she was booed by parents.
“This is an unnecessary visit,” a parent told the Press Trust of India. "It will only disturb the candidates."
Commuting issues
Abida Gul, woke up a little after 4 am and reached her designated pick-up location in Safapora, Ganderbal, by 5 am. She boarded a bus for Srinagar at 6 am. Exhausted by the early morning commute and with a few more hours to go for the exam, she said: “I did get to revise a little. Hopefully, the exam will go well.”
Shoaib Ahmed arrived in Srinagar from Tral in Pulwama district in a taxi that he shared with other candidates. The ride cost him Rs 300. Another candidate, Shahid Bashir, boarded a government bus at 4.30 am at Sriwaripora village.
Mohammad Yasin accompanied his 18-year-old son, Asif, from North Kashmir’s Handwara town in Kupwara district. To avoid trouble, the duo had reached Srinagar the previous night and stayed at a friend’s house.
Yasin was distressed with having to commute to Srinagar amid the prospect of violence. “Those who throw stones don’t have to study or work,” he said. “They cause troubles to their own people.”
The students spoke out against the restrictions on communication. Abida Gul, whose parents could not accompany her, said “[The government] should have restored mobile phone services, we have no means to communicate with our parents.”
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