(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) PANAJI — Goa Police officers have been instructed to ensure the safety of people from Jammu and Kashmir residing in Goa, in the wake of attacks and acts of intimidation of residents of the conflict-ridden state, Director General of Police Muktesh Chander said on Friday.
"We have asked our Superintendents of Police North and South districts and the Special Branch to look after the safety of Kashmiris and act in case any issue arises," Chander told reporters here.
Incidents of violence and intimidation have increased in several states across the country after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force convoy that left 40 troopers dead.
According to police statistics, currently there are around 2,000 Kashmiris residing in Goa, mostly trading in handicrafts, carpets and gemstones in the tourism-friendly coastal belt.
Rights activists demand protection for Kashmiri students
Rights activists Friday here demanded protection for Kashmiri students and others living in various parts of Rajasthan.
Prem Krishan Sharma, lawyer and activist who represents the People's Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL), said Kashmiri students and employees are living under fear as they are being threatened in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
He said nearly 7,000 students and over 2,000 employees from Jammu and Kashmir currently live in the state.
Besides the PUCL, activists of Jamat-e-Islami-Hind and other organisations also demanded protection for the Kashmiri people.
"Several people have returned to Kashmir. They are living under fear and the government should ensure their security. They are also Indian citizens and they should not be forced to leave," Mohammad Iqbal of the Jamat-e-Islami Hind told reporters.
Students held on sedition charge for Kashmir, Manipur independence posters
Two college students were arrested here on sedition charges for allegedly putting up "anti-national" posters seeking independence for Kashmir and Manipur, police said Friday.
The duo-Mohammed Rinshad (20) and Mohammed Farris (19), pursuing graduation at the Government College Malappuram, were arrested following the complaint of the principal, they said.
According to police, the students, under the aegis of an outfit 'Radical Students Forum', had allegedly pasted the posters on the portico of the college campus.
The complaint was lodged after the students told the principal that they stood by the posters, which could be read as "azadi for Kashmir and Manipur", a police official told PTI.
Both were charged under IPC section 124A (sedition), he said, adding that they were produced before the magistrate and remanded to police custody for four days.
Those involved in attacking Kashmiri students sacked: Sena
Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray said Friday that the organisation has sacked those who assaulted Kashmiri students in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack.
The students, studying at Dayabhai Patel Physical Education College, were attacked Wednesday night by members of Yuva Sena, the student wing of the Shiv Sena.
"The party has sacked those involved in the act. Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India and no Indian, or for that matter, nobody should face the brunt of anger that is towards terrorism. We understand the angst but it must be against terror, not innocent people," Aditya Thackeray tweeted Friday.
A video of the incident had gone viral on social media and a police case was registered.
As per one of the victims of the attack, they were asked to say 'Vande Mataram', slapped and abused.
The attackers also asked them to vacate their rented accommodations within four days.
Yuva Sena secretary Varun Sardesai had said Thursday that the incident was condemnable, and action will be taken against the attackers if they turned out to be Yuva Sena workers.
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