Omar says sedition charge against Kashmiri students 'unacceptable'

Srinagar, March 6: Jammu and

chief minister

questioned the

government for charging sedition charges against Kashmiri students of a university in the state, who cheered for Pakistan during a cricket match on Saturday.

On Twitter, Omar termed the government's move 'unacceptable'. "Sedition charge against Kashmiri students is an unacceptably harsh punishment that will ruin their futures & will further alienate them", tweeted Omar.

"I believe what the students did was wrong & misguided but they certainly didn't deserve to have charges of sedition slapped against them", the CM said on the social media network. Omar also stated that he will talk to the UP government regarding this issue and ask them to withdraw the charges.

A case of sedition has been charged against the 67 Kashmiri students of Meerut's Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (SVSU) who allegedly celebrated the victory of Pakistan over India in a cricket match on Saturday.

The case of sedition was registered under section 124 (a) of the Indian Penal Code.

"We have registered the case against the students and the culprits would be brought into record after investigation," said senior superintendent of Meerut police Onkar Singh.

Reportedly, a delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders met the university's vice chancellor Dr Manzoor Ahmad and management officials demanding stern action against the students who praised Pakistan terming their act "anti-national".

A group of students belonging to BJP youth wing burnt the effigy of the vice chancellor, blaming him for being lenient to the students.

Reportedly, on Saturday a group of Kashmiri students celebrated Pakistan's victory in a cricket match, which they were watching with local students in SVSU's Madan Lal Dhingra Hostel.

A few of them shouted slogan "Pakistan Zindabad" on the way back to their hostel rooms.

After the incident caused tension in the hostel, the university management launched an enquiry and questioned other Kashmiri students who refused to divulge the identity of those who were involved in the incident. As a result, the management suspended all 67 Kashmiri students residing in the hostel.