Afghan students seek extension of visas
The Hindu
200 Afghan students are pursuing courses in Telangana
The chilling images of distressed Afghans clinging on to flights to leave their country have shocked people. Students from the troubled country who are pursuing various courses at universities in Telangana say that they are safe here. The thought of going back at this point of time is not entertained by either the students or their families. However, some of them are worried that they might have to return to an uncertain future in their country in a few weeks. Some of the Afghan students have reached the fag end of their academic courses and their visas are set to expire by end of August or this year. Md Yousaf, president of Afghan Students Association, requested the Indian government to extend their visas and scholarships until the situation in their country stabilises. Around 200 Afghan students, including 10-12 women are pursuing courses in Osmania University, English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), and three more universities in Telangana. They receive scholarship amount of ₹24,500 per month from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).A crowd comprising farmers, researchers, professors, students, and horticulture enthusiasts thronged the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru, on Friday for the inaugural ceremony of the Triphal Diversity Show which showcased 300 mango, 100 jackfruit, and 100 banana genotypes in collaboration with ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli.
The State government on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Director-General of Police, Manish Kharbikar of the Economic Offences division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the alleged multi-crore scam in the government-run Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.