Terror case for supporting Pakistan dropped; bail granted to Kashmiri students

GANDERBAL: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday dropped the charges of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against the seven students who were arrested by the police for allegedly raising anti-India slogans and celebrating the Indian cricket team’s defeat in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final on November 19.

The students of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district were also granted bail by a court after the dropping of the draconian terror charges, India Today reported on Sunday.

Kashmiri students arrested for supporting Pakistan in world cup

According to sources, the decision of the police came after their parents accepted that the students had made a mistake by celebrating the defeat of the Indian team and also gave an assurance in writing that they would not repeat the mistake in the future.

They also apologised on behalf of their children, following which the police decided to drop the UAPA charges, sources informed India Today.

However, the probe against the seven students is still on and if their links with any Pakistani handlers are established, then the UAPA charges could be re-imposed. Moreover, the case registered under Sections 505 and 506 (which deals with public mischief and criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code against the students will continue.

Booking of the students under the UAPA had evoked strong criticism from the political parties who had demanded the dropping of the charges.

The seven students were arrested after a non-local student from Punjab filed a complaint alleging that the Kashmiri students engaged in verbal abuse, raised pro-Pakistan slogans, and threatened him for supporting the Indian team during the cricket match.