Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday registered two FIRs under the stringent anti-terror law against medical students for raising pro-Pakistan slogans and celebrating the victory of the arch-rivals against India in the T20 World Cup in Dubai on Sunday.
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti called the registration of FIRs “Home Minister's Mann ki baat with Kashmiri youth started by slapping UAPA against medical students for celebrating Pakistan’s win.
"Instead of trying to ascertain why educated youth chose to identify with Pakistan, GoI resorting to vindictive actions. Such steps will alienate them further.”
She was also responding to Shah's Monday speech, where he said “if talks are to be held, will do it with brothers, sisters of Valley, not Pakistan”.
On the FIR, Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone said “punitive actions can worsen the disease”.
Reacting to the suggestion that institutes should suspend the students, in a series of tweets Lone said he strongly disagrees with it.
“I strongly disagree. If you think that they r not patriotic enough because they cheered for another team- u should have the courage and the belief to wean them back if u think they have gone patriotically astray. Punitive actions won’t help. Have not helped in the past either,” Lone said.
“We live in Kashmir and have to live with those who are ideologically opposed to us. But we’re confident that it is a game of narratives of discourses. And that we will win. We will convince all about the goodness of our ideology. We will prevail. But that that is if you allow us to,” he added.
“We don’t see anti-India or pro-Pakistan 'ism' as an irreversible condition. It is at best a curable disease. Let us cure it. Allow us to cure it. Trust me. Punitive actions can worsen the disease,” he said in another tweet.
The cases were registered at the Soura and Karan Nagar police stations in Srinagar after videos purportedly showing medical students at two college hostels shouting pro-Pakistan slogans emerged on social media.
“Yes, the cases have been registered and investigations have been taken up,” a police officer said adding that the accused are being identified. (UNI)