7 Kashmir university students arrested, booked under UAPA over campus face-off after World Cup final

SKUAST’s Dean of Students Welfare, Dr Mohammad Abubakar Ahmad Siddiqui, confirmed to The Indian Express that the students had been arrested. “Basically, seven students had been arrested, but I don’t have the latest information about the case. The students didn’t write any complaint to us,” he said.

However, Dean of Veterinary Sciences, Dr Tufail Banday, denied the incident.

An official at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences said that on the night of November 19, there was a face-off between students at the undergraduate hostel after India lost the match.

“There are around 300 students residing at the hostels, out of which 30-40 are from states like Punjab, Rajasthan and others,” he said. “On the night of November 19, there was some face-off. The students from outside Kashmir alleged that the local students celebrated (after India’s loss) and harassed them.”

“The unfortunate thing is that no complaint was made to the warden or any other official of the institution. The student went directly to the police. Whether they presented any evidence about the incident or not, only the police will know,” he said.

Based on the complaint by a 20-year-old student, the J&K police booked the arrested students under UAPA, and IPC sections 505 (intent to incite a class or community to commit offence against any other class or community) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

In his complaint, the student named seven other students and claimed that after the match, they “started abusing me and targeting me for being a supporter of our country”. He also claimed that they threatened to shoot him. The students also raised pro-Pakistan slogans, “which created fear amongst the students from outside the UT of J&K…,” the complaint claimed.

A SKUAST official said police arrived at the university hostel and asked the warden to hand over the seven students. “They were detained by the police and are at Ganderbal police station. The university officials are in touch with the police and are trying to sort out the matter,” he said. “The arrested are fourth-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science students.”

Ganderbal Superintendent of Police, Nikhil Bhorkar, did not respond to calls and messages seeking a comment.