PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday termed as "shocking" the arrest of seven university students for allegedly raising objectionable slogans and celebrating the Indian cricket team's loss in the World Cup final.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also requested the union territory's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the issue.
"Disconcerting & shocking that cheering for a winning team too has been criminalised in Kashmir. Normalising slapping of draconian laws like UAPA on journalists, activists & now students reveals the ruthless mindset of the establishment towards youngsters in J&K. Hearts & minds of people through barrel of a gun (sic)," she said in a post on X.
The arrested youths are studying at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir.
The students were arrested after police launched an investigation into a complaint by a non-local student who alleged his college mates had harassed him and raised objectionable slogans after India lost the final match and the cup to Australia.
Later, talking to reporters at the party office, Mehbooba said, “Sports is sports. Our PM, and many before him, have gone to watch matches and cheer for the team which plays well, they cheer for the opposition team also. In J-K they claim things are fine here then why so much fear and paranoia over some students celebrating Australia’s win?”
The former J-K chief minister said UAPA is used to book terrorists, but the government has arrested youth, journalists, and students under the stringent law.
“You have to win the hearts and minds of the people of J-K. How many will you put in jail? I have said this before as well that there is an ideology and you cannot cage an ideology. Youth, journalists, are being booked under UAPA, which is for terrorists. Now, they are using this for students and ruining their career,” she said.
-With PTI Input
