Kashmiri student ‘thrashed’ for liking FB post

Satinder Pal Singh

Lalru, February 20

Tension prevailed at the Universal Group of Institutions, Lalru, when a Kashmiri student was reportedly thrashed by a group of college students after he liked a Facebook post against the Indian Army.

Pooja Siyal, SDM, Dera Bassi, along with police officials and the SHO of the area, visited the spot and found it to be a case of minor altercation between students.

Sources said someone had posted a comment against the Army following the Pulwama attack, which was liked by a few students, including a Kashmiri.

Upset over this, students got into an argument with the 21-year-old Kashmiri student, who liked the post.

The matter escalated when students objected to the post and locals asked Kashmiri students to vacate their rented premises. Sensing trouble, the college management approached the police.

Other Kashmiri students studying at the institution gathered outside a hostel this evening and requested the administration to make arrangements for their travel to Jammu.

The students claimed that after the Pulwama incident, the situation had turned tense here and they needed to go back to their native places for some days.

Later, Dera Bassi DSP Simranjit Singh, along with officials of the local administration, reached the campus and managed to persuade the Kashmiri students to stay put after assuring them that they would be provided ample security.

The police said the matter was being investigated. 

The students have settled the issue and the situation is peaceful.

Meanwhile, the police have stepped up security outside all college campuses having Kashmiri students. 

A vehicle of the police now remains deployed at all colleges to check any untoward incident.

The police said colleges had also counselled Kashmiri students. 

The sources said students staying in rented accommodation were more worried about their safety.