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Kashmiri students booked u/s 124-A, 153 and 427 IPC but Sedition (124-A) charges were dropped after criticism

March 7, 2014 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

Uttar Pradesh, India (March 07, 2014): The 67 Kashmiri students from Swami Vivekanand Subharti University in Meerut who had ‘cheered’ Pakistan when that country’s cricket team beat India in the Asia Cup match last on Sunday were hit with sedition charges under sections 124A, 153 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) but the charges were later dropped as withering criticism of the police move forced the Uttar Pradesh government to intervene in the matter.

According to Times of India (TOI): “[a]s the issue turned into a political hot-button both in New Delhi and in Srinagar, with People’s Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into it, Pakistan waded into the controversy on Thursday and said its “heart and academic institutions were open” for the students”.

J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah had also expressed his disapproval of the police action, calling the sedition charges “harsh”.

At the SVSU campus itself, there were conflicting reports and versions. University officials, who said the “entire episode has been blown out of proportion and given a political colour”, said they had filed no complaint, hinting at arbitrary police action.

“We have not filed any complaint against our students in any of the police stations,” Prof Manzoor Ahmad, vice-chancellor of the university, said. “Regarding the case, it is for the police to explain why they had to file sedition charges. We also feel that the act of the students in no way fell in the category of ‘treason against the nation’.”

The police, though, disagreed. According to MM Baig, superintendent of police (Meerut rural), it was PK Garg, registrar of the university, who had lodged the FIR against unknown students. “The case was filed on the basis of this FIR whose number is 113 /14,” Baig said. PK Garg, on his part, promptly denied any involvement and maintained that his name was being “unnecessarily dragged” in the episode.

But as pressure built up on the UP administration, principal secretary (Home) AK Gupta said that the sedition charges may have been dropped.

“The contents of the complaint filed by the university administration attracted charges of sedition under section 124-A, spreading hatred between castes and communities under section 153, and causing damage to property under section 427 of the IPC”. “Hence a case was lodged under these three sections. However the preliminary inquiry by the police found that the case does not attract section 124-A in any way. The SSP, Meerut, has personally confirmed to me that sedition charges have been dropped.”

According to Times of India (TOI): [s]tudents were divided on the issue. While most sympathized with the Kashmiri students — their education and even careers might be in jeopardy if the sedition charges stick— many felt there was no reason for the raucous lot to cheer Pakistan and raise anti-India slogans in an already politically charged atmosphere. “I have full sympathy towards the erring Kashmiri students, but what they did is not acceptable at all as it clearly reflects anti-national feelings and appropriate action must be taken in that particular regard,” said Atul Pradhan, student union leader at the Ch Charan Singh University.

In Srinagar, Gulzar Ahmad, one of the expelled students, said they were not hooting the Indian side but merely cheering the talented Pakistani team. “I will go back to the university if I am given a safety assurance by the authorities,” he said.

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Related Topics: Jammu and Kashmir, Sedition

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