Thaindian News

Jalandhar (Punjab), April 29 (IANS) Twelve African students, including three who have been charged with murder, have been sent to 14 days judicial remand in connection with the killing of a Mizo youth during a soccer match at a private university here, police said Friday.

While three people were accused of murder and sent to jail Friday, the other nine were sent to judicial custody earlier.

Ahmed Al-Nagni and Sayed Feisal from Tanzania and Hatin Indriss from Sudan were arrested Wednesday night for allegedly thrashing Johnny F. Lalhmangaih to death during a soccer match at Lovely Professional University (LPU). Following this, they were also suspended by the LPU authorities.

“We produced them in the court today; all three have been sent to judicial remand. They are accused of murder. Police have also recovered the spiked shoes that they were wearing while kicking the victim,” said Investigating Officer Ravinder Singh.

Besides, nine other African students - eight from Sudan and one from Tanzania - were arrested Thursday and are already under judicial remand.

“We have arrested nine more African students. Though they were not directly involved in the killing of the Mizo student, they had provoked the other three African students to commit the crime and make the situation deteriorate further,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandeep Sharma told IANS.

“They are pursuing various courses at LPU. They have been booked under Sections 107 and 151 of the Indian Penal Code and sent to 14 days judicial remand by the court.”

The first section relates to abetment in crime and the second to knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse.

The victim, Johnny, 22, who was pursuing civil engineering from LPU, had scored a goal for his team during a friendly football match between students from Africa and Mizoram in the campus. Following this, the African students allegedly got into a brawl and started bashing him.

According to the post-mortem report, Johnny died of internal injuries. His father works as a sub-divisional officer in the public welfare department in Mizoram.

Following the incident, scores of Indian students went on the rampage Wednesday and damaged the hostel furniture and rooms. Heavy police force was called in to control the situation.

In a bid to avoid any further untoward incidents, LPU authorities have closed the varsity for three days till Saturday. The varsity authorities have also shifted all 45 African students from their hostels to an undisclosed location.

“We have deployed sufficient police force inside and outside the campus. There is no threat from anybody and force has been deployed as a precautionary measure,” stated Sharma.

Over 250 foreign students from 16 countries are studying at the university. Of them, around 50 are from African countries.

Punjab’s first private university, LPU is located on the Phagwara-Jalandhar National Highway, 140 km from Chandigarh, and has over 24,000 students on its rolls.