Bengaluru: A theological college in southern India has stated that it was not part of an event organized by Amnesty International India that ended in controversy and protests.

The August 13 meeting on human rights violation in Jammu and Kashmir at United Theological College (UTC) attracted the ire of the activists of Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party that heads the federal coalition government.

The ABVP activists blamed that anti-Indian slogans were raised at the event titled “Broken families.”

During the meeting, Kashmiri families spoke about human rights violations and atrocities committed by security forces.

The student activists who were present at the meeting challenged the narratives of the Kashmiris.

On the following day, they reportedly stormed the UTC campus, and gave vent to their anger.

The UTC clarified that it was “not at all responsible and in no way connected with the issue of the sponsors of the program.’’

Its principal Rev Dr J R John Samuel Raj said that the Protestant college had only rented out its facilities to the organizers and that “There was no participation on the part of the students or the teaching fraternity of the UTC in this private program.”

The college principal affirmed that the 106-year-old UTC had “never been and shall never be a party to issues that would go against the interests and the integrity of the nation and the sentiments of the people.”

“The UTC always stood for the secular values of our nation in the true letter and spirit,” Rev Samuel asserted.

On August 14, hundreds of ABVP protestors gathered in front of the UTC and shouted slogans and demanded the arrest of the participants of the meeting and action against the UTC management for allegedly organizing the event.

The UTC is affiliated to the Serampore College (University) and awards theological degrees and wards.

Thousands of students from different parts of India and outside have studied in the UTC since its inception in 1910.

Students, who have studied at the UTC, have later become church workers, pastors, priests, bishops, theologians and theological teachers and scholars.

Meanwhile on August 15, the Bangalore police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Amnesty International India, the global human rights watchdog, on charges of sedition, unlawful assembly and promoting enmity between two groups.

The FIR is registered under IPC sections 142 (being member of an unlawful assembly), 143 (whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language.

“It is important that media attention to the conduct of some of those who attended the event not serve as a distraction from the important issues of the denial of truth and justice to those who have suffered in Jammu and Kashmir,” Tara Rao, Programs Director, Amnesty International India had said after the event.

As a matter of policy, Amnesty does not take any position in favor of or against demands for self-determination, said Rao.

“However, Amnesty International India considers that the right to freedom of expression under international human rights law protects the right to peacefully advocate political solutions that do not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence,” she added.