Kashmiri Students ‘Illegally Detained’ After Scuffle in Ludhiana

Screengrab of the protest.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@Junaidbhatphoto)

Several students of Gulzar Group of Institutions in Punjab's Ludhiana were injured in a scuffle between two groups, one from Kashmir and one from Bihar on Sunday, 3 November.

The Kashmiri students alleged that when they approached the police regarding the incident, three of them were “illegally detained”.

They also alleged that the police “hurled verbal abuses” at them instead of taking cognizance of the incident.

However, SSP Gursharandeep Singh refuted the claims and told The Indian Express that no student has been detained and that it was a minor issue which has been sorted.

The video of the fracas which allegedly took place inside the campus was posted by a Kashmir-based photojournalist Junaid Bhat, which was then sent to Punjab Police. In the video, students can be seen protesting and shouting slogans, saying "We want justice".

Inspector Baljinder Singh, SHO, Sadar Khanna police station said the students had an argument in the evening when tea was served to them, according to The Indian Express.

“Some students from Bihar started banging utensils, to which Kashmiri students objected. Soon, two students, one from each group, had a scuffle and they sustained minor injuries,” the inspector told The Indian Express.

Singh further said that the incident was reported by the college authorities. However, no student was detained and the issue was resolved through talks between the two groups.

No FIR was registered and the situation is now under control, Singh added.

‘Incident Has Nothing to Do With Prevailing Situation in Kashmir’

Meanwhile, Spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association Nasir Kheuhami told The Quint that all the three detained students were later released and the issue has been resolved with immediate intervention of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

"I Spoke to Punjab CM Captain Amarinder and his Advior Raveen Thukriyal on phone urged them to provide safe and peaceful atmosphere for students of the state. Both ensured that action will taken against those found in intimidating students from Kashmir Valley," Kheumi told The Quint.

Further, Kheumi said the incident “has nothing to do with the prevailing situations or any other concerns of Kashmir” and requested politicians and journalists not to politicise the matter.

(With inputs from The Indian Express.)