Rajasthan: Four Kashmiri students who were allegedly thrashed and later arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of cooking beef in Mewar University hostel have been released after a board of experts confirmed that the meat was not beef.
The students were produced before the Gangrar sub-divisional magistrate’s in Chittorgarh on Wednesday.
A veterinary medical board collected samples of meat from accused students’ hostel room. After testing, the board concluded that it was not beef.
“The meat sample was sent to a veterinary medical board and they confirmed that it was NOT BEEF. As, there was no reason for us to keep them in the custody, we released all the four of them,” said Labhu Ram, Station House Officer Gangrar, Rajasthan.
The four Kashmiri students–Shakib Ashraf, Hilal Farukh, Mohammad Maqbool and Shaukat Aliall—all between the age of 21 and 27 years of age were arrested on Tuesday under Section 151 of the IPC for disturbing the peace.
Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore was quoted by ANI as saying, “Kashmiri students accused of cooking beef in the Chittorgarh College have been released after questioning. It was just a precautionary measure, the students were released respectfully.”
According to a report published in valley-based Newspaper Kashmir Observer, “On Monday night, a few Dogra students from Jammu spread word in the University that four Kashmiri students have cooked beef in their hostel. Though the students did not take these rumors seriously, however a large number of supporters from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) assembled outside the University gates and started raising anti-Kashmir and anti-Muslim slogans.”
It has been further alleged that the four Kashmiri students were also manhandled by some fellow-students and local residents.
The Newspaper further quotes students as saying, “The activists tried to break the lock of the gate, however the University authorities did not allow them to enter into the premises. Some of them beat up few Kashmiri students who locked up themselves in their hostel rooms.”
Following the reports of alleged harassment of Kashmiri students in Rajasthan, Director General of Police (DGP), K Rajendra Kumar contacted his counterpart of Rajasthan and enquired about the incidents of alleged harassment of students from Jammu and Kashmir. Rajendra urged them to ensure safety of the students from J&K studying in these states.
The DGP has appealed the people, particularly the student community not to pay any heed to the rumours being circulated on the social media and remain vigilant of the rumour mongers who might have some sinister designs.
He urged the people to verify such content from police help-line numbers in Srinagar on telephone numbers 0194-2506504 /0194-2506508/ & Mobile No: 9858000333 and in Jammu on telephone numbers 0191-2542000/0191-2542001, 0191-2560401 & Mobile No: 9419255283.
(With inputs from PTI)