Agra, October 30, 2021 (PPI-OT):Lawyers’ associations in Agra have refused to provide legal assistance to the three Kashmiri youth who were arrested for cheering Pakistan’s win against India in a T-20 World Cup match, forcing the families to approach advocates in other cities.
The lawyers issued a statement that no help will be provided to those who go against India. “These students got admission under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) in India to build their careers and they were cheering for the neighbouring country against their nation,” said Nitin Verma, president of Youth Lawyers’ Association (Agra division).
President of Agra Advocate Association, Sunil Sharma, said students should have focused on their studies instead of indulging in anti-India activities. “They are not worthy of getting legal help from us for such an act,” he said.
Youth Lawyers’ Association (Agra division), Agra Advocate Association, Janpad Bar Association, Lawyers’ Cooperation Committee and Agra Youth Vishal Advocate Association (Collectorate) also said they would not provide legal help to those involved in anti-India activities.
The Kashmiri students Arshad Yousuf, Altaf Sheikh and Showkat Ahmed Ganai, studying at Raja Balwant Singh Management Technical Campus in Agra were arrested on Wednesday. Extremist Hindus attacked them while they were being produced before a court on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Advocate Madhuvan Dutt Chaturvedi has agreed to defend the students after one of the families contacted him. A family member of one of the students, who reached Agra, said they sought help from Chaturvedi after they found that lawyers in Agra had refused to take up the case. Talking to Indian media, Chaturvedi said, “We will move a bail application for the students in the Agra court soon.”
It is worth mentioning here that Advocate Madhuvan Dutt Chaturvedi is fighting the case of Atiq-ur Rehman, Masood Ahmad and Mohammad Alam who were booked for sedition charges after they were arrested along with journalist Siddique Kappan. They were arrested on October 5, last year, while they were on their way to meet the family of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Hathras who was gang raped and murdered by upper-caste Hindus.
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