The Kashmiri students who were expelled from a private university in Meerut last week and slapped with sedition charges for allegedly cheering Pakistan in a cricket match against India will be taken back only after they are cleared of the charges.
“We know the students will return. It’s only a matter of time. Once the probe is complete and they are cleared of the charges, we will take them back,” Swami Vivekanand Subharti University Vice-Chancellor Manzoor Ahmed said.
The university has constituted a committee, led by a Kashmiri origin professor, to probe the matter, even as the Meerut administration is conducting a magisterial probe.
Mr. Ahmed, however, said the students would have to produce affidavits mentioning that they would not indulge in such acts in future.
“The students are in constant touch with us. They are anxious about their future. We assured them that they will not suffer any loss. We are willing to organise extra classes for them to cover the syllabus they have lost,” he told The Hindu.
Asked whether the university anticipated a drop in the number of Kashmiri students seeking admission, Mr. Ahmed said: “We will make sure we have more Kashmiri students next year.”
Around 150 Kashmiri students study in the university.
The charge of sedition has been dropped against the 67 Kashmiri students, but they still face the charges of promoting enmity among different groups under Section 153 A of the IPC, and mischief under Section 427 of the IPC.
The police have also sent a report to the Election Commission in connection with the dropping of the sedition charge.
