This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36136754
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
India 'sedition' students suspended | India 'sedition' students suspended |
(1 day later) | |
Two Indian students accused of sedition for helping organise a protest at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University have been suspended. | Two Indian students accused of sedition for helping organise a protest at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University have been suspended. |
Umar Khalid has been suspended for one semester and Anirban Bhattacharya has been barred from campus for five years. | Umar Khalid has been suspended for one semester and Anirban Bhattacharya has been barred from campus for five years. |
Both students, and student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who was also charged with sedition, have also been fined. | Both students, and student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who was also charged with sedition, have also been fined. |
The three students were involved in a protest, on 9 February, over the hanging of a Kashmiri man, Afzal Guru. | The three students were involved in a protest, on 9 February, over the hanging of a Kashmiri man, Afzal Guru. |
Afzal Guru was convicted of a 2001 plot to attack India's parliament, charges he always denied. The attack, in which 14 people died, was carried out by Pakistan-based militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. | |
His hanging in 2013 sparked protests in Kashmir, and he was seen as a martyr and a symbol of perceived injustice. | His hanging in 2013 sparked protests in Kashmir, and he was seen as a martyr and a symbol of perceived injustice. |
On 9 February, students at JNU held a demonstration to mark his execution. There were allegations that anti-India slogans were chanted at the protest. | On 9 February, students at JNU held a demonstration to mark his execution. There were allegations that anti-India slogans were chanted at the protest. |
Mr Kumar was arrested, while Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya went missing but later handed themselves over to the police. All three were accused of sedition. | Mr Kumar was arrested, while Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya went missing but later handed themselves over to the police. All three were accused of sedition. |
The arrests of the students led to protests and clashes across India. | The arrests of the students led to protests and clashes across India. |
Critics condemned the charges as an assault on freedom of expression, but government ministers refused to back down, vowing to punish what they described as "anti-national elements". | Critics condemned the charges as an assault on freedom of expression, but government ministers refused to back down, vowing to punish what they described as "anti-national elements". |
In addition to being suspended from classes, Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya have been fined 20,000 rupees ($299; £206) each. | In addition to being suspended from classes, Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya have been fined 20,000 rupees ($299; £206) each. |
Mr Kumar has been fined 10,000 rupees. | Mr Kumar has been fined 10,000 rupees. |
Reports say that Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya have been blamed for "triggering communal violence" and "disrupting" harmony on the campus. Mr Kumar was found guilty of indiscipline and misconduct. | Reports say that Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya have been blamed for "triggering communal violence" and "disrupting" harmony on the campus. Mr Kumar was found guilty of indiscipline and misconduct. |
Mr Bhattacharya said the punishment was "unacceptable", and described it as a "fascist witch-hunt of student activists by the administration". | Mr Bhattacharya said the punishment was "unacceptable", and described it as a "fascist witch-hunt of student activists by the administration". |