Lucknow:Suddenly, nearly half a dozen students of the Lucknow Arts College find that no one is willing to let out rooms to them. They are paying the price for belonging to Azamgarh, the district that has lately been linked to suspected terrorists. These are among the 15-odd Muslim as well as Hindu students from eastern Uttar Pradesh - which houses Azamgarh - for whom paying guest accommodation has dried up.

"After being evicted by their landlords, these students have approached us. But as our college hostels are under renovation, we cannot provide a permanent solution to their problem," college Principal Rajeev Nayan told IANS. However, "considering our moral responsibility, for the time being we have decided to accommodate these students in a guest house of Lucknow University, which governs our college," he added. These students, their bags and baggage in tow, met Nayan Tuesday evening, officials said.

The students are enrolled in different undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including bachelor and master of fine arts, officials added. They have been in a spot ever since Azamgarh was found to be the hometown of two suspected terrorists who were killed for alleged involvement in the Delhi serial bombings last month. Significantly, in the last two months, nearly a dozen youths hailing from Azamgarh have been sent to jail in connection with blasts in various parts of the country. One such youth, Abu Bashar, was arrested in August for his alleged role in the Gujarat serial blasts.

Source : IANS