Some Kashmiri students, studying at Mewar University in Chittorgarh of Rajasthan, were attacked by a group of locals belonging to a particular community for allegedly consuming beef in the varsity’s hostel last evening.
Students hailing from Kashmir told Srinagar-based news agency GNS over phone from Mewar University said that some students from majority community ransacked their rooms and belonging and also pelted stones at them.
“They also abused us and threatened us of dire consequences. We somehow hid ourselves in a room and saved ourselves from the unruly mob,” the students said.
Following the incident, the students said, local police arrived in the hostel and brought the situation under control. The police however detained four Kashmiri students identified as Shakeeb Hafeez, Showkat Ali Bhat, Muhammad Maqbool and Hilal Farooqi.
Incharge Caretaker of the University, Tariq Sofi, when contacted told GNS over phone that the incident had happened after a group of locals came to know about the consumption of beef by Kashmiri boys. He said police rushed to the spot and “sorted out the matter”.
Confirming the incident and detention of four boys, Station House Officer Gangrar, Labhu Ram, told news agency Global News Service (GNS) that a police team rushed to the University Hostel after receiving information about the ransacking. He said the police have started an investigation into the case and sent the samples of meat for lab test.
“If the offence of consuming beef is proven then we will file a case and action will be initiated accordingly,” he said.
The Kashmiri students meanwhile said they fear for their lives. “We fear that we may be attacked again by the mobsters. There have been series of incidents in other parts of India against beef consumers,” they added and sought police protection.
Pertinently, a person namely Ikhlaq Qadri was lynched to death by an angry mob over suspicion of consuming beef at Dadri. Later, a probe report said the slain had not consumed beef. (GNS)
