J&K Students Association welcomes Allahabad High Courts decision to grant bail to three Kashmiri students
J&K Students Association welcomes Allahabad High Courts decision to grant bail to three Kashmiri students
Reiterates that reconciliation is the way forward.
Press Trust of Kashmir | Srinagar : Jammu Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Thursday welcomed decision of Hon’ble Allahabad HC granting bail to three Kashmiri students who were charged under various sections of IPC after India-Pakistan T20 world cup clash. In a Statement National Spokesperson of the Association Nasir Khuehami termed the bail order as welcome step and expressed deep sense of gratitude to judiciary for taking a broad and pragmatic review of charges against the students & granting them bail; much to respite of the families & concerned citizenry across board.
“The fact that these students were framed under charges, which as per the defence, were prima facie not only arbitrary but were equally harsh. The trio have suffered a great deal from being roughed up at Agra Sessions court to facing recurrent delays in hearing of their case at Agra”. Since now they have bailed out, it has restored and reposed the faith of common man in judiciary” said Khuehami.
Speaking on the timeline of case, Nasir said that it all started with a simple congratulatory “WhatsApp status” which irked a local right wing leader at Agra who filed police complaint against the trio. “We intervened at that moment only as we were clearly anticipating the fallout of an incident of this kind, particularly when a highly charged cricket clash is on cards. We had earlier before T20 clash repeatedly issued advisories to students of JKUT India. But, unfortunately many students don’t realize that sports & politics in this part of world are not separate; added Khuehami.
“The complaint alleged sloganeering by the trio; a claim that administration of Raja Balwant Singh college of Engineering & Technology Agra, where the students are enrolled in Civil engineering faculty, outrightly refuted. But, the police despite rebuttal went ahead and booked Arshid, Inayat and Shaukat initially under IPC 153 A, 505 (1) (B) and 66 F of IT Act. They later, to our utter surprise, added 124 A of IPC, a section that amounts to sedition” added Nasir.
“With limited resources, we recommended a lawyer to the trio, after having consultations with several legal experts. The lawyer challenged the entire case in Agra court but without any success. Ironically, the students were roughed up allegedly by lawyers on the very first day of their hearing at Agra Sessions court which served base for filing of petition for transfer of case to either Mathura or Allahabad HC. The familes, already reeling under financial strain had to bear extra monetary burden of courts.The bail came at costs; both financial and emotional which no one except their families had to bear. Afterwards, we did everything little we could have done in our limited capacities; from writing to CM of Uttar Pradesh and PM Modi as well”, he further added.
Khuehmi said, “Our motive as students association, is always safeguarding the rights and reasonable interests of students, besides reminding them of their duties as law abiding citizens. Here we did both. We pleaded for dropping charges against the trio, just to make sure that a message is sent that “reconciliation not revenge” is the way forward. It is unfortunate that these students lost their precious time and perhaps will never get emotionally streamlined”.
Uttar Pradesh Coordinator of Association, Manzoor Ahmad also thanked Advocate Madhuvan Dutt Chaturvedi and other lawyers who were defending the trio. Manzoor, on behalf of association, also extended heartiest congratulations to the trio and their families on their release besides wishing them best in their future endeavours.
JKSA appealed students from JKUT to work hard, indulge in meaningful education & pursue their dreams as ambitious citizens of the country. It also thanked people at the helm of affairs in Uttar Pradesh & JKUT for pursuing the matter of bail and release with relevant sections from time to time.:-PTK.
