Glad UP govt withdrew sedition case: Omar

He took up the issue with UP CM after widespread condemnation in the Kashmir Valley of Meerut police action

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday thanked his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh for withdrawing sedition charges against 67 Kashmiri students who were celebrating Pakistan cricket team's victory over India.

"Very glad that the UP police has withdrawn the sedition case against the boys. Grateful to Akhilesh Yadav (Uttar Pradesh chief minister) for his intervention in the case," Omar Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle.

He took up the issue with the UP chief minister Thursday after widespread condemnation in the Kashmir Valley of Meerut police action in slapping sedition charges against the Kashmiri students.

The students were accused of celebrating Pakistan team's victory over India during the Asia Cup championship in Dhaka.

However, Abdullah accepted the students should not have done what they were alleged to have done because they were sent to pursue professional courses under the Prime Minister's Special Scholarship programme.

Omar Abdullah also said the university authorities were within their rights to have expelled the students after their "misguided behaviour".

Separatists Syed Ali Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik have called for protests in Srinagar over the action of Uttar Pradesh Police and university officials.