Image Courtesy:thebridge.in
Soon after team India was defeated by team Pakistan at the T20 World Cup match on Sunday, online trolling targeting Muslims, including Mohammad Shami, the only Muslim player in the indian team started. However, even more disturbing reports came in from Punjab, where police had to reach the Bhai Gurdas Institute of Engineering and Technology campus after several Kashmiri students were allegedly assaulted there, soon after the match ended. The college is located in Punjab’s Sangrur area.
One of the Kashmiri students shared the video of the ransacking on social media and said, “We were watching the match here. UP waale barged in. We came here to study. We are also Indian. You can see what was done to us. Are we not Indians? So what does Modi say?”
Kashmiri studnts assaulted in Bhai GIET Sangur Punjab after #Indpak Match. Students from Bihar barged in their rooms, thrashed them &went on rampage, vandalised the rooms of students, damagd the hall, abusd & beat up a few others@CHARANJITCHANNI @AdityaMenon22 @ghazalimohammad pic.twitter.com/Dm7bPJkZ7d
— Nasir Khuehami (ناصر کہویہامی) (@NasirKhuehami) October 24, 2021
We are also Indian, why we are being attacked over a cricket match by goons from UP: A Kashmiri student studing in a Punjab college! pic.twitter.com/CzTdamtOto
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) October 25, 2021
According to some reports, similar incidents were also reported from the Rayat Bahra University in Kharar. Nasir Khuehami, the national spokesperson J&K Students Association, told the media that, “Kashmiri students who were assaulted in Sangrur and Kharar Mohali told me that they were rescued by the locals and other Punjabi students. Students from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana had barged into their rooms, thrashed them and went on a rampage.” Khuehami added that, “All the students are from Rayat Bahra University. They said that they were hit by several goons from Haryana.” He further said, “Punjab Police must ensure the protection of Kashmiri students studying in Punjab. I have spoken to several in Bhai Gurdas Engineering and Technology College. They told me that students from Bihar had hit them, vandalised the rooms, damaged the hall, and even abused and beat up a few others.”
However, according to reports, no police case has been filed as yet but “both sides apologised to each other in front of police and college authorities this morning.” The distressing video clips of broken chairs, upturned beds in their hostel rooms and also injuries sustained the alleged assault on their bodies.
Police officials said, “There are about 90 Kashmiri students and around 30 students from UP and Bihar in the college. Kashmiri students stay in 2 wings of the hostel. While the match was on, the students cheered when Pakistan was hitting runs. They also raised azadi slogans. After the match ended, students from UP and Bihar went inside the rooms of Kashmiri students and had a scuffle with them. Later, the Kashmiri students also had a scuffle with the students from UP and Bihar. The police and college authorities pacified things overnight.”
The Indian Express reported that Swapan Sharma, SSP Sangrur district, said, “Both sides have offered their apologies in front of the police and college authorities today morning. The issue has been settled down.”
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called this alleged vandalism distressing and asked Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to “reassure Kashmiri students.”
It is distressing to hear about the incidents of physical & verbal assault against some Kashmiri students in a college in Punjab last night. I request @CHARANJITCHANNI ji to direct @PunjabPoliceInd to look in to this & also to reassure the students studying in Punjab.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 25, 2021
Meanwhile Twitter influencers have been fanning the communal fires that the massive defeat of team India at the hands of team Pakistan has ignited. A case in point is former cricket Virender Sehwag, who claimed and taunted that “in parts of India there were firecrackers to celebrate Pakistan ‘s victory. Achha they must have been celebrating victory of cricket. Toh, what’s the harm in fireworks on Diwali. Hypocrisy kyun, Saara gyaan tab hi yaad aata hai.”
Firecrackers are banned during Diwali but yesterday in parts of India there were firecrackers to celebrate Pakistan ‘s victory. Achha they must have been celebrating victory of cricket. Toh , what’s the harm in fireworks on Diwali. Hypocrisy kyun ,Saara gyaan tab hi yaad aata hai
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 25, 2021
Then there one Dr. Monika Langeh, who claims to be “Honoured and Blessed to be followed by Hon’ble PM @narendramodi”, shared that “MBBS and PG students of SKIMS Medical college Srinagar, Kashmir.They are celebrating the victory of Paki$tan over India” calling them “traitors” and claimed she had faced “this behaviour of Mu$lims of Kashmir since College Time. They are pursuing free MBBS degree from GoI.”
They are MBBS and PG students of SKIMS Medical college Srinagar, Kashmir .They are celebrating the victory of Paki$tan over India.Shame on Traitor$ and we are Facing this behaviour of Mu$lims of Kashmir since College Time .They are persuing free MBBS degree from GoI. pic.twitter.com/Wvv5AegBWb
— Dr.Monika Langeh (@drmonika_langeh) October 24, 2021
With lakhs following them online, such messages only empower the troll and mobs to unleash violence offline, as was seen in Punjab.
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