Srinagar, Nov 27, KDC: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested seven Kashmiri students under an anti-terror law for allegedly shouting pro-Pakistan slogans after India’s loss to Australia during the finals of the recently concluded World Cup.
Reliable sources told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot .Com that seven Kashmiri students have been arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police after they allegedly celebrated the loss of India’s World Cup final match against Australia this month.
A police officer confirmed to Kashmir Dot Com that all the students have been booked in FIR no 317 of 2023 under 13 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and 505, 506 of Indian Penal code and have been detained at a local police station in Ganderbal district.
This comes after a non local student studying in the faculty of veterinary sciences and animal husbandry in his complaint to police mentioned that “There was a world Cup Final match between India V/S Australia on 19.11.2023 and being a cricket fan was watching the match and supporting my country. The students namely Umer, Asif, Mohsin, Taquer, Khalid, Sameer and Ubaid Gulzar who are the students of Kashmir undergo different courses. After finishing the match they started abusing me and targeting me for being a supporter of our country and also threatened me to shut up otherwise I would be shot. That the above mentioned materialists students not only stopped me there, but raised slogans (Jeeve Jeeve Pakistan) which created fear amongst the students from outside the UT of J&K because of their threats such as behaviour patronizing the enemy country or fear struck me. I was not coming out of my room that takes hours and now taking a courageous, step and the protection from such hooligans mentioned above and praying for lodging of FIR” reads an FIR, a copy of which is in the possession of Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot .Com.
Reports reaching Kashmir Dot Com identified the seven persons as Tawqeer Ah Bhat s/o Mushtaq Ahmad R/o Watapora Bandipora, Mohsin Farooq Wani s/o Farooq wani R/o Sunerwani Bandipora, Asif Gulzar War s/o Gulzar Ahmed R/o Magam, Umer Nazir Dar s/o Nazir Ah Dar R/o Uran Hall Anantnag, Syed Khalid Bukhari s/o Syed Mohd. Qasim R/o Kreeri Baramulla, Sameer Rashid Mir s/o Ab Rashid Mir R/o Damhal Kulgam and Ubaid Ahamd.
The officer said all the seven Kashmiri students are in police custody in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and further investigation in this matter is going on.
Reacting to the opinions and comments on booking of some students of SKUAST-Kashmir under UAPA for sloganeering during India-Australia cricket World cup final, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said ‘it is not merely about raising pro Pakistan slogans and is also about normalizing an abnormal: that everyone hates India (as different from the government of the day and party in power) ‘openly’.
In a statement, a police spokesperson said a number of opinions and comments have been made on the legal cognizance taken of the happenings surrounding anti-India sloganeering and intimidation of others who did not agree with them in an university after the conclusion of World Cup cricket match.
“Two relevant aspects are brought to public knowledge. First : it is not merely about raising pro Pakistan slogans. It is about the full context in which the sloganeering took place. These slogans, as has usually been the case with select few bullies, were aired to intimidate those who disagreed and also to identify and vilify those who choose to keep a distance. It is also about normalising an abnormal : that everyone hates India (as different from the government of the day and party in power) ‘openly’,” he said.
The spokesperson added: “This abnormal and false thing is practiced mostly on the back of separatist and terrorist networks. In other words, the aim is not airing personal preference of a particular sporting team. It is not about dissent or freedom of expression. It is about terrorising others who may be nourishing pro India feelings or anti Pakistan feelings or disagreeing. There were written complaints to evidence this.”
“Section 13 of UAPA is about inciting, advocating and encouraging separatist ideology. It is not about planning, aiding and executing actual terror acts. It classifies such actions as unlawful. In contrast to other provisions of act it is a softer provision of act,” read the statement.
“Hence as per the content of the complaints, FIR No. 317/2023 stands registered and section 13 UAPA invoked for inciting and abetting the unlawful activities. Section 505 and 506 IPC too has been invoked for ‘public mischief’ and ‘criminal intimidation’ respectively,” it added.
Police Spokesperson also said FIR is lodged on the basis of written complaint received and relevant sections are invoked as per the contents of the complaint.
