J and K students in Coimbatore

Updated on: Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A group of 23 students from a remote village of Jammu and Kashmir arrived here today as part of an educational tour of the country.

The eighth and tenth standard students were from Mohur, an interior hamlet in Jammu and Kashmir. Major Ruchi Anand of Rashtriya Rifles, J and K, told reporters here that though terrorism was weeded out from the area, many youngsters from the village were lured and brainwashed to engage in terrorist activities a few years ago.

Some anti-social elements also exploited the youth from this underdeveloped village for their various activities, the Major, who brought them from Bangalore to Sulur, a Defence base on the city outskirts, to show the culture and tradition in other parts of the country, told reporters.

The students, who have already visited Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, would leave for nearby Wellington. This is the first time they are venturing out of their hamlet to see the rest of the country, he said.

"It is important to change the mindset of these youngsters, who are the future of tomorrow.We deem it our responsibility to enlighten them on peace and harmony and the consequences of indulging in terrorist activities," he said.

The study tour was also aimed at inculcating the message that hard work always paid and it was important to study well to build up a career, Anand added.

J and K students in Coimbatore

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