Students expelled for team support

INDIA

A GROUP of 60 Kashmiri students who cheered on Pakistan’s national cricket team during a match against India have been expelled from their university and could face charges of sedition, police said yesterday.

Officers in the northern city of Meerut are investigating complaints about the behaviour of the students, all of whom are from Indianadministered Kashmir, from officials at the city’s Swami Vivekanand Subharti University. Both India and Pakistan claim the disputed Himalayan region and have fought two wars over it since they won independence from Britain in 1947.

The students, who were accused of cheering ‘‘Hail Pakistan!’’ and other slogans, were expelled and escorted off the campus after Pakistan’s dramatic victory by one wicket in the Asia Cup match on Sunday. They could face up to three years in jail.

Meerut police officer Omkar Singh said police were looking at a complaint made against the students by university staff for ‘‘indulging in anti-national activities and creating a ruckus on the university campus’’.

Some of the students claim they were attacked by Hindu students after the game and subjected to stone pelting.

Gulzar Ahmed said he and his friends were never given a chance to explain themselves.

‘‘They [local students] attacked us with stones and abuse after the match.’’