UAPA charges against 7 Kashmiri students dropped

Srinagar : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday ordered the dropping of charges against seven Kashmiri students under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Earlier a case was registered against them under this strict Act. Seven students of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) were booked under UAPA after they indulged in sloganeering and celebration after Australia’s victory over India in the ICC World Cup final on November 19.

Parents of students, political leaders and civil society members had appealed to the authorities to adopt a lenient approach so that the careers of the students could be saved. The parents also apologized unconditionally on behalf of their children for their misbehavior. Meanwhile, a court in Ganderbal district on Saturday granted bail to the students after the authorities dropped UAPA charges against them.