NAGPUR: Two first-year Bachelor of Pharmacy students, one hailing from Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir and another from Jammu, were beaten up allegedly by a group of anti-social elements late on Sunday evening in Kamptee while they were returning with their friends to hostel on the college campus.
The matter came to fore following a post on ‘X’ by J&K Students Association national convenor Nasir Khuehami. “Mohd Waseem, a student from Doda area of J&K, was brutally thrashed without any rhyme & reason by fringe elements in Nagpur, Maharashtra. According to Waseem, around 2–3 goons attacked him. Some of the assailants knocked him down and started punching him on the face and stomach, and hitting him on his knees. He was slapped 8–9 times on the face, neck, back, and arms...”
The youth leader sought Maharashtra Chief Minister intervention into the incident.
Speaking to TOI, Waseem said he and his classmate Piyush Lanjeh, a resident of Jammu, were scarred when the group of men appearing inebriated stopped them. “We were not aware the area from where we passed was notorious for criminal activity. They held us by shirt’s collar and attempt to loot us. We somehow managed to flee though they beat us. We had only informed about the incident to a relative who told about it to Khuehmai,” he said.
“The attackers asked us from where we are? Normally, we tell we are from Jammu just like we reply to everyone.,” he said.
Kamptee police station incharge Mahesh Andhale said he visited the college and enquired the students. “They had gone to purchase books from Kamptee bazar. They took a shortcut via a basti while returning. One of them stopped to answer nature’s call when some locals objected over it. The area has anti-social elements. The students couldn’t explain their situation properly. An argument ensued and one of them as assaulted. But the victim refused to file an FIR or take us to the spot,” he said.
The cop added that they have shared their personal numbers with all the J&K students studying in the college and beat marshals have been patrolling the area twice a day.
The college officials confirmed to TOI about the incident but sought to downplay any backlash from locals following the Pahalgam terror attack last week.
A total of 12 students including equal number of boys and girls are studying under the PM Special Scholarship Scheme. “Currently their summer exams are underway and we don’t want’ the students to loss their focuss. The issue has been resolved. Some reports and social media posts have sought to connect it with the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack. We too came to know about the incident only through social media. Later, we got a call from the cops and CM office too. The student had not reported the incident to us. We have spoken to their parents and assured them about their safety. The exams will be over in a month,” college officials said.
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