Srinagar: Days after he was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Kashmir, Professor Riyaz Punjabi is facing a serious threat from four radical militant outfits, which have held him “responsible for the killings of several of their top commanders before he fled from the valley in 1990”.

Al Nasreen, Farzandan-e-Milat, Save Kashmir Movement and Al Istiqilaal, which are believed to be the shadow organisations of Lashkar-e-Toiba, have termed the appointment of Prof Punjabi as a big conspiracy to undermine the secessionist movement.

Prof Punjabi, who was till recently teaching in Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU), was appointed vice-chancellor last month by J&K Governor Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha, who is also pro-chancellor of the Kashmir University. Prof Punjabi replaced Prof Abdul Wahid who attained superannuation in December 2007.

According to the spokesman of Kashmir University, the new vice chancellor will be joining his new assignment on Monday. “A man responsible for the killings of several militants has been appointed as vice-chancellor. We will never forget his role in the killings of our colleagues. His appointment has been made under a planned conspiracy. Even the senior professors of the university were ignored for the post,” said Yousuf-ul-Anwar, spokesman of the four outfits in a statement to the local news agencies.

The militants’ spokesman accused Prof Punjabi of defaming the secessionist movement in the west. “Prof Punjabi has launched a vicious campaign in Europe and other western countries against the freedom struggle.He is active in different countries and his job is to undermine the movement”, Anwar said.

The militants’ threat has alerted the police and the security agencies which have started reviewing the security setup for the new vice chancellor of Kashmir University. “Vice-chancellor (VC) of the university is a well protected person. A group of security guards are shadowing him every time.We have one company of special University guards deployed in the campus. His residence is also highly protected. If anything more is required will be done to protect the new vice-chancellor”, said Mohammad Subhan Lone, deputy inspector general of police, central Kashmir range.

Meanwhile, Prof Punjabi refused to comment on the threat issued by the ultras. “I have not read any report and I would not like to comment on this issue”, he said over a telephone from New Delhi.

Source : DNAIndia