Clarifying that Friday’s attack on two Kashmiri students in Haryana was not intentional, Haryana Police on Saturday, 3 February, said that the incident was a ‘misunderstanding’.
Outlining two separate events that were entangled in a mix-up, the IGP of Haryana South Range said that the accused had initially gotten into a quarrel with some labourers from UP, and had attacked the students thinking them to be aides of the labourers.
5 UP laborers who were returning from mosque had a quarrel with 2 locals (accused in case). The labourers outnumbered the locals who then called their friends, and it seems that the Kashmiri youth were attacked in the misunderstanding that they were with the labourers.
Three men accused of the students have been arrested, while three others have been identified, reported ANI quoting Mahendragarh District Commissioner Garima Mittal.
Two Kashmiri students of Haryana’s Central University in Mahendragarh town were allegedly attacked and assaulted by a mob of 10 to 15 people, when they were returning from a mosque after offering their Friday prayers.
The students – Aftab Ahmad (23) and Amjad Ali (22) – are both students of MSc (geography) at the Haryana university. They are residents of Rajouri in Jammu region, according to The Indian Express.
Mahendergarh SP said that a total of six accused have been identified on the basis of a CCTV footage, reported ANI.
“We will make sure a proper investigation is done. Medical help will also be provided to the victims,” said Mittal.
My friend and I had gone to the mosque to offer namaz. After we came out of the mosque, we noticed some people following us. Just as we were leaving on my motorbike, a group of 15-20 people started to beat us.Aftab Ahmad to ANI
“No one came forward to help us. Soon after police arrived at the spot. We went to the hospital for checkup and returned to the university campus. We told the faculty about incident, and lodged a complaint with the university," he added.
The students alleged that the police had initially refused to file an FIR in the case. However, the Jammu and Kashmir Police later confirmed that the Haryana Police has taken cognisance and lodged an FIR under Sections 148, 149, 341 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code.
Reasons behind the attack are not known so far.
The two victims, who sustained injuries on their faces and legs in the assault, were taken to a local hospital.
Aftab’s father, Mohammed Quyoom, later thanked the media and CM Mufti for their support in raising the issue.
Some Hindu boys identified my son as their classmate. Two boys from Haryana helped a lot and took them to hospital. I am grateful to them and the media. I also thank Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for raising this issue.Mohammed Quyoom to ANI
J&K CM Mufti Urges Action
Mehbooba Mufti urged the Haryana government to take stringent action against the perpetrators for assaulting the students, and demanded a probe in the case.
An irked Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister expressed her shock on Twitter.
The Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Saturday raised the issue of the alleged assault on the two students, and demanded reply from the state government.
Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah tweeted that the incident went against the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outreach to Kashmiris.
Congress’ Salman Nizami tweeted that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar should take “effective measures”.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaid is working alongside his Haryana counterpart to ensure the safety of the Kashmiri youths.
Owaisi Hits Out at Khattar Govt for Inaction
Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen slammed BJP government in Haryana for their perceived lapse in security.
Speaking to ANI, he said:
Khattar administration has failed in living up to its constitutional responsibility of providing security to people in Haryana. Two Kashmiri students were deliberately targeted after they came out of a mosque. I strongly condemn this.
Further invoking Kashmir, he said that the state will always be an integral part of the country. “What message are we sending? What crime have they done? Who are the vigilantes to target them? The government is following its ideology instead of providing security to people,” he said.
(With inputs from ANI and The Indian Express)
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