SrinagarA police complaint has been lodged against some Kashmiri students at a dental college here for allegedly shouting pro-Pakistan slogans and uploading objectionable picture of Indian cricket team on social media after the ICC Champions Trophy final.
Two complaints have been received, one by students of Kalka Dental College and Hospital and the other by Bajrang Dal activists, police said.
While police have started investigation, activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal led by its leader Balraj Dungar stormed the college campus on Wednesday and confronted college officials, and accused them of keeping the matter under wraps instead of reporting to administration.
The right wing activists have demanded arrest of Kashmiri students, police said.
The administration of the college, located in Partapur area, has said that a committee has been constituted to probe the incident.
Meanwhile, some Kashmiri students, including girls, were reported to have left their hostel.
“After India’s defeat in the Champions Trophy final, some Kashmiri students are alleged to have raised pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans,” Anand Kumar, the additional director general of police, Meerut Zone, told PTI.
Police are taking the matter seriously, the ADG said, adding they along with the Local Investigation Unit (LIU) are working on the case.
As of now, a case has been registered by the police and further action would be taken only after initial inquiry.
The principal of the college told the press that a committee has been formed to probe the matter and if the students are found guilty, stern action will be taken against them.
The dental college has 60 Kashmiri students and majority of them have gone to their native place after the controversy. A few of them however said that they have left for Kashmir to celebrate Eid and they had nothing to do with controversy.
Balraj Dungar leader of Bajrang Dal has lodged complaint with police demanding sedition charges against the Kashmiri students.
He has also threatened to launch a massive movement if action was not initiated against culprits, according to a report in The Hindustan Times.
Brahmpuri circle officer Dharmendra Chauhan and force of different police station also arrived at the college during visit of Hindu leaders who returned only after seeking assurance of action against culprits, the report said.
In a similar incident in 2015, groups of Kashmiri and local students clashed in Subharti University after Kashmiri students allegedly cheered defeat of Indian team in a T20 match.
Cases of sedition were lodged against a group of Kashmiri students and they were sent to their native towns in the night in order to avoid further clashes. Later, cases of sedition were withdrawn and a few students were expelled from the university.
In 2014 around 67 Kashmiri students studying in Meerut University were expelled for cheering for Pakistan cricket team in the Asia Cup.
The apprehensions grew more after the UP government charged these students with sedition which were dropped later on after outrage from various quarters in the Valley. The minimum punishment for a sedition offence is three years and the maximum is life sentence.
Another university to expel students for celebrating Pakistans victory over India in the Asia cup, in past, was the Sharda University in Greater Noida. Local students had rallied to demand the expulsion of six Kashmiri students following their provocative posts on social media.
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