Kashmiri students arrested over beef rumour, J&K top cop enquires about incident

Srinagar: Following reports of alleged harassment of Kashmiri students in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir’s police chief K. Rajendra Kumar has urged his counterparts from these states to ensure their safety.

An official statement issued in Jammu on Wednesday said that Mr. Kumar while taking instant cognizance of the reports of alleged harassment of some Kashmiri students studying outside the state, contacted his counterparts of Rajasthan and West Bengal and enquired about the incidents. “He was assured that police would take all possible measures to ensure that students from J&K are not subjected to harassment,” the statement said adding that J&K police chief was also told that incidents reported have been properly investigated and students were found to have no major problem in these institutions.

Mr. Kumar appealed to the people, particularly the student community not to pay any heed to “rumours being circulated on social media and remain vigilant of rumour mongers who might have some sinister designs”. He urged people especially youth to desist from posting such “mischievous and unverified content” on social media, as the same has potential of creating unnecessary tension among the parents about the well being of their children studying outside State. He warned that spreading such “rumours” is highly objectionable and warrants action under law.

A group of local students allegedly beat up four Kashmiri pupils over rumours that they were cooking beef in Mewar university in Chittorgarh, which has a strictly vegetarian mess.

However, according to police, someone spread a rumour about students preparing beef, leading to the misunderstanding. A large number of students gathered at their hostel room following the rumour and beat them up.

Police said the students were allegedly manhandled by some others students and locals after the rumours spread but prima facie the meat was not found to be beef.

Soon after some students as well as locals assembled in front of the Mewar University and demanded action against them. Police rushed to the site and arrested four students under section 151 of IPC (disturbance of public peace) on Tuesday.

"They were questioned about their role in bringing the meat to the hostel and cooking it," SHO Gangrar Police Station Labhu Ram said.

Those arrested are Shakib Ashraf, Hilal Farukh, Mohammad Makbool and Shaukat Ali, aged between 21 to 27 years.

"We also collected the sample of the meat which prima facie does not appear to be beef. However, the samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for testing and the report is awaited," he said.

The situation however was brought under control before anything serious could happen. The students sustained minor injuries due to the incident.

“Some mischief mongers spread rumours that the students were cooking beef. But prima facie it didn’t look like beef. We have sent it for forensic testing just to be sure,” Chittorgarh superintendent of police Prasanna Khamesara was quoted in a report.

Public Relations Officer of the university said meat is not allowed in the campus.

"Cooking meat is against our policy. Police is investigating the case and during the initial probe, it was clear that the substance was not beef," Harish Gurnani, PRO of the autonomous university said.

He said the hostellers involved in the matter were undergraduates.