'Perform Al-Ameen salute': J&K medico alleges ragging in Karnataka college; 5 arrested

VIJAYAPURA: A 22-year-old student from Kashmir studying at Al-Ameen Medical College in Vijayapura, about 500km from Bengaluru, has alleged he was ragged and assaulted by seniors during a cricket match and later in college hostel on Tuesday.

Vijayapura superintendent of police Laxman Nimbargi confirmed to TOI that Hamim was assaulted, and five seniors allegedly involved in the incident have been arrested on assault and ragging charges under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Karnataka Education Act, 1983.

However, the college played down the incident as "a minor altercation".

According to the Jammu Kashmir Students' Association (JKSA), Hamim, a second-year student from J&K's Anantnag, was assaulted by five students from the 2019 batch. JKSA national convener Nasir Khuehami claimed Hamim had been subjected to "months of harassment due to a power struggle" as he captains the 2023-batch cricket team.

The accused arrested have been identified as Mohammed Zainul, 23, from Vijayapura; Sameer, 24, from Sandur, Ballari district; Shaik Sawood, 23, from Mudagal, Raichur district; Mansoor Bhasha, 24, from Shiraguppa, Ballari district; and Muzzaffer alias Mujeeb Jamadar, 23, from Indi Taluk, Vijayapura district.

The alleged incident took place Tuesday evening during a match between the 2019 and 2022 batches. "While standing near the boundary line, a senior asked him to stay outside. He promptly moved away. As verbal intimidation escalated, seniors humiliated him, ordered him to perform an ‘Al-Ameen salute', sing songs, and dance for their amusement. They even attempted to force him into their car," Khuehami alleged.

When Hamim refused, citing college regulations, tensions escalated. "Sensing danger, he took out his phone to record the incident, hoping it would deter them. Instead, this enraged them. Later in the evening, 6-8 individuals stormed into his hostel room and assaulted him. They repeatedly beat him, forced him to record a video apologising under duress, and issued death threats, warning he would not be allowed to play cricket for the next four years," Khuehami added.

Following a social-media post tagging PM Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar, the matter drew attention of Vijayapura Rural police officials, who visited the college to conduct an inquiry.

Dr Jilani Awati, medical college superintendent, said, "The incident was a quarrel between two student teams during the cricket match. Hamim might have informed the Kashmiri student leader, who, unaware of the full context, sought help by tagging officials on social media. Disciplinary action will be taken if any misconduct is proven."

He said the college has a strict anti-ragging policy, claiming, "In our 40 years of existence, no case of ragging has been reported."


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