Drop sedition charge against Kashmiri girls, says PUCL

JAIPUR: The People’s Union for Civil Liberties has written to the state director general of police to close a case of sedition against four Kashmiri girls and provide them safe passage to their home.

The Jaipur police registered a case under section 124A (sedition) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race etc.) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 66F of the IT Act against four Kashmiri girls of NIMS University for allegedly celebrating the Pulwama terror attack on February 14.

PUCL said: “It is our urgent request to you to please remove the said charges and bring closure to this FIR and if at all the students have indulged in the alleged misconduct then instead of criminalizing the violations, the college should establish an internal committee and give proportionate disciplinary measures and disincentivize the said students.”

The letter, a copy of which is marked to Jaipur Range inspector general S Sengathir, said police must be aware that these Kashmiri students were in Jaipur to pursue education under the PM Fellowship Programme specially designed for Kashmiri students as part of the process of peace building along with engaging with diversity in regions and cultures.