AMU revokes suspension of Kashmiri students charged with sedition

Srinagar : The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) administration on Tuesday revoked the suspension of the two Kashmiri students on whom the authorities have also slapped sedition charges along with another students. The three students were booked on Friday for allegedly raising “anti-India” slogans and trying to hold ‘namaz-e-janaza’ (prayer meeting) for Hizbul Mujahideen commander Manan Bashir Wani .
“A three-member committee had been constituted to look into the matter, which concluded that the ‘suspension will be harsh for their act and conduct’. Based on the evidence found by the committee it was decided that the suspension order be revoked,” Aligarh Muslim University PRO Omar Peerzada said.
On Monday, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had demanded the withdrawal of sedition charges against the three students while also asking the Centre to intervene in the matter. The AMU students also staged a protest in the campus, with over 1,200 Kashmiri students threatening to leave for their homes on October 17, if the sedition charges against the three were not dropped. The students also handed over a letter to the Proctor of AMU, stating that “no prayers or any relevant activity was observed” and they strongly condemn the “fabricated allegations and a systematic vilification campaign” against the students and the university.
The students also said that the cases laid against them threaten to jeoperdize their career and that they are law abiding people and did not breach the guaranteed freedom of speech, or act.
When contacted Vice President Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union Sajad Subhan Rather said “we had detailed discussions with the university authorities till late evening hours on Tuesday during which we were told that the probe team has found the allegations against the two suspended students baseless but a final decision on withdrawal of sedition charges will be taken on Wednesday (today) only. We have decided to defer our return to Kashmir by one day. We will talk to university authorities on Wednesday (today) again and expect a decision on withdrawal of sedition charges on Wednesday (today) only. The suspension of two Kashmiri students has been withdrawn.