Giant hoardings asking “stone-pelting Kashmiris” to leave Uttar Pradesh have sprung up across Meerut in the communally sensitive belt, raising concerns over security of hundreds of students from the militancy-hit state.
Police said on Thursday they have asked the controversial ‘Uttar Pradesh Nav Nirman Sena’, which admitted to have put up the warning signs, to pull down the hoardings or face action.
A case has been registered against Amit Jani, the leader of the organisation, for allegedly spreading communal hatred and will be arrested soon, police added.
The hoardings appeared a day after a group of Kashmiri students of Mewar University in Rajasthan were allegedly called terrorists and assaulted by local residents, who were said to be upset over soldiers being targeted by stone-throwers in the strife-torn border state.
“Bhartiya sena par pathar maarne wale Kashmiryon ka bahishkar. Kashmiriyo Uttar Pradesh chodo warna (Boycott those Kashmiris who pelt stones at Indian Army. Kashmiris leave UP or….” warns a hoarding on a road in the city. The hoarding also carried the name of the organisation’s chief Amit Jani, a controversial and divisive figure in state politics.
The hoardings assume significance as they surfaced at a time when Kashmir valley is witnessing volatile situation after a number of video clips, including one showing a man tied to a military jeep as a human shield against stone-throwers, sparked anger in the state and divided opinion across the country.
“I have asked Amit Jani ( the president of the organisation) to remove the hoardings immediately or face a case,” said superintendent of police (city), Meerut Alok Priyadarshi.
