NEW DELHI: Four Kashmiri students arrested following rumours that they cooked beef in their hostel room in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh have been released, police said on Thursday, claiming the meat in their possession was prima facie not of the cow, Indian Express said.

It said the police have also identified the man who allegedly spread the rumour on a WhatsApp group and legal action has been initiated against him.

“The four Kashmiri students were arrested and later released by the SDM court on Wednesday after they furnished personal bonds of Rs 25,000 each,” Superintendent of Police, Chittorgarh, Prasanna Kumar said on Thursday.

“We have also identified a local man named Gaurav who had circulated the rumour on a WhatsApp group which created tension on Monday night,” he said.

The students studying at a private university were allegedly manhandled by some other students after the rumour spread but police said the meat was not found to be beef. The Kashmiri youths were also alleged to have beaten up a local journalist when a crowd had gathered in front of the Mewar University to protest alleged cooking of beef.

The students were arrested yesterday under section 151 of CrPC (Arrest to prevent commission of cognizable offences).

Kumar said the meat which was brought to the university by the Kashmiri students was not beef and it became clear during the investigation.

“We have verified it from the butcher that it was not beef. However, we have sent samples to the Forensic Science Laboratory and the report is awaited,” he said.

The officer said a notice was also served to the university after a few cases were registered in different matters involving its students in the recent past, including the episode related to the Kashmiri youths.

“We have asked them to improve the situation and the university administration has assured they will ensure there is no problem related to law and order,” the officer said.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2016