HARYANA: Two students from Jammu and Kashmir were thrashed allegedly by nearly 15 people last evening in Haryana’s Mahendragarh. The police have arrested three of them and identified three more persons, said Mahendragarh’s Superintendent of Police Kamaldeep Goyal and added that investigations are on.
The two boys – Geography students at the Central University of Haryana in Mahendragarh, about 100 km from New Delhi – had gone to the market after offering Friday prayers when they were allegedly surrounded and assaulted with sticks, bricks, and helmets.
“After offering prayers when we went to the market some people surrounded us. It seems they were following us. The moment we stopped our bike at Masani chowk, they came from behind and started beating us mercilessly,” the students said.
When they asked the attackers why they were being thrashed, the students didn’t receive any response, they said. “They just kept thrashing us with bricks and helmets. There were people around but they didn’t say or do anything to help us,” they added.
Both the students were rushed to a hospital and later discharged. They received injuries on their face and bruises on arms and legs; their photos circulated on social media.
A police case has been filed in Mahendragarh against the alleged assaulters. “Haryana Police has taken cognisance… One of our officers is in touch with the boys as well,” Jammu and Kashmir Police officer said. J&K Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid said he is in touch with the top cop in Haryana over the case.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti meanwhile urged her Haryana counterpart, ML Khattar, to ensure strict action.
“Shocked and disturbed to hear reports of Kashmiri students being assaulted in Mahendragarh, Haryana. I urge the authorities to investigate and take strict action,” she tweeted, tagging the Haryana Chief Minister.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to whom the students had tweeted about the assault, said, “This is terrible and goes against the spirit of what PM Modi said from the ramparts of the Red Fort. I hope the authorities in Haryana act quickly against this violence.”
