Four Kashmiri students booked for sedition in Jaipur

Four para medical students, from Kashmir, studying at a private university in Jaipur were booked under the sedition charges for posting alleged anti-national messages on social media, in the wake of the Pulwama attack, on Sunday.

The Chandwaji police lodged an FIR against the four students studying at National Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) University on the outskirts of Jaipur for putting out alleged celebratory messages on social media, in response to the terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.

"After the University's registrar lodged a complaint against the students on Saturday, the police lodged an FIR against the four students under section 124-A IPC (sedition charges), section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and sections of IT Act," Harendra kumar, SP Jaipur rural, told DH.

"A senior officer is probing the incident. If required we will take an action against the students," Kumar added.

On Saturday night, NIMS University had served suspension letters to the four students in this regard.

According to the letters, the students have been suspended from there respective courses as well as from the college hostel.

"The NIMS University will not tolerate and strictly condemns such activities and that the above act of theirs is grave and serious in nature," the suspension order reads.

Several social organisations have requested the police and administration to drop the charges against the students as well as to provide security to 300-odd Kashmiri students studying in various colleges in Rajasthan.

Demanding security for the students, Kavita Srivastava, general secretary of PUCL, told DH, "We demand that fair and just investigation be undertaken by the Chandwaji police of the FIR and all charges be dropped immediately. As the prime minister’s fellowship for the education of the Kashmiri students is a part of the peace building process between Kashmir and the rest of India, such an FIR would only defeat this purpose. Instead the university ought to prescribe proportionate disincentives, if the internal inquiry confirms the alleged misconduct".

The four students were enrolled in the bachelor's degree programs under Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS), which is meant for students hailing from Jammu and Kashmir.

"We would also like to demand the college authorities, the state police and administration to ensure the safety of not only these four Kashmiri students but the over 300 Kashmiri students and teachers, who are living in deep fear", Srivastava added.