Sixty-seven Swami Vivekanand Subharti University students from Kashmir, a region controlled by both India and Pakistan, are being sought after because they cheered for the Pakistani cricket team in a match against India. Authorities are deciding whether or not to charge them with sedition, which can be punished by life in prison.
Muteebu Rehman, a student who is being pursued said, "We were cheering for both the teams. We were cheering for good cricket, but the moment Pakistan started winning, the expression of other students changed. They called us Pakistani and terrorist,” according to Hindustan Times.
Another student, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, said that the authorities told them to pack their belongings or that the local police would “resort to baton charge” and that if the students didn’t leave that they could be killed.
According to International The News , Pakistani spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said in a statement that, “Our hearts and educational institutions are open for Kashmiri students.”
The tension between India and Pakistan has been going on since 1947 when India spilt from Pakistan. Kashmir has been claimed by India and Pakistan.
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