Srinagar: Family of one among three Kashmiri students arrested in India’s Uttar Pradesh State on charges of celebrating Pakistan Cricket Team’s victory over India Friday made a vehement appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha seeking his intervention and release of B.Tech student Showkat Ahmed from the Agra prison.
Arshid Yousuf, Inayat Altaf Sheikh and Showkat Ahmed Ganai, students of the Raja Balwant Singh Engineering College (RBSEC) in Agra, were arrested after an FIR was lodged against them at the Jagdishpura police station. They are accusing of shouting pro-Pakistan slogans and putting up social media posts in support of Pakistan after the match.
The students have been booked under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc) and 505 (1)(B) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public) of the Indian Penal Code. They have also been charged under Section 66-F of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cyber-terrorism.
The family members of Showkat, a B.Tech student who hails from Shahgund Bandipora area emerged in Press Enclave Srinagar and asked LG Manoj Sinha to use his good books in releasing the alleged ‘erring’ student.
“I don’t think Showkat can do this, still if he has done this, he is young and should be pardoned along with two other students,” the mother of Shokat told news agency Kashmir News Trust.
All these three Kashmiri students were remanded to 14-day judicial custody by an Agra court on Thursday. Videos that are viral show some people donning lawyers uniform heckling them outside the court in presence of the police.
Pertinently, Pakistan beat India with 10 wickets at the T20 World Cup match held in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday night.
After the match, the Uttar Pradesh Police booked as many as seven people across five districts on similar charges. Chief Minister Adityanath has directed the police to file sedition cases against those celebrating Pakistan’s victory.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have also booked students and staff at two medical colleges in Srinagar for celebrating Pakistan’s victory. An operation theatre technician at a medical college in Rajouri district has also been terminated from service for posting a WhatsApp status hailing Sunday’s victory by Pakistan. (KNT)
