3 students from J&K arrested for sedition
THE STUDENTS ARE
FROM SHOPIAN IN KASHMIR AND POLICE SAID ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THE BASIS OF A COMPLAINT FROM THE COLLEGE MANAGEMENT
Three students from Kashmir studying at a private engineering college in Hubballi district of Karnataka were arrested on sedition charges for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans and posting a video of it on a messaging platform, police said on Saturday.
Police said, according to preliminary information, the students are from Shopian in Kashmir and action has been taken on the basis of a complaint from the college management.
“We received information that three students hailing from Kashmir studying at the KLE Institute of Technology had raised slogans supporting Pakistan. They made a video about it which has gone viral. Immediately, our team headed by Inspector Gokul Road station went and arrested them,” Hubli-DharwadPolice Commissioner R Dileep said.
Right wing activists, including those from Bajarang Dal who had gathered near the college, demanded stringent action against the three. As the students were being taken to the police station with their faces covered, an activist tried to attack them, but police escorted them safely.
The FIR has been lodged under IPC sections relating to sedition and affecting communal harmony, the official said. “We are investigating, and whatever comes out as per evidence, law and facts, we will take further action,” Dileep said, adding that the arrest should not be seen as action against any particular community or region.
Officials said the selfie video of the three has gone viral as they posted it on WhatApp.
In the video one of them can be purportedly seen initially uttering something with background music on, after which they chant ‘Azadi’ one after the other.
Then joining chorus to the music that is playing, they purportedly say “Pakistan Zindabad”. The music they played is said to be Pakistani military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations song, which police said needs to be ascertained.
College principal Basavaraj Anami said: “It came to our notice in the morning, following which I called the students immediately to my office, and informed the police.”