India arrests Muslims for celebrating Pakistan's win in T20 World Cup

Police arrested three Kashmiri students at Uttar Pradesh for reportedly celebrating Pakistan's T20 World Cup victory against India on Sunday.

They were accused of "promoting enmity and cyber terrorism" after police said they screamed "anti-India and pro-Pakistan" slogans throughout the match.

The arrests in Agra are the latest in a string of Muslim arrests for reportedly cheering on the Pakistani side.

By a margin of ten wickets, Pakistan defeated India.

The ties between the South Asian neighbours have always been tense, and a cricket match frequently exacerbates them.

Critics claim that after India lost the match, many Indians lost their sportsmanship and sought scapegoats.

Mohammed Shami, the sole Muslim in the Indian cricket team, was severely mocked and harassed online just after the game ended. Some accused him of deliberately giving the Pakistani team runs on social media, while others labelled him a traitor.

The college in Agra suspended three Kashmiri students on Monday for allegedly sending WhatsApp statuses praising Pakistani players. They were arrested on Wednesday, according to police, after some members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party complained.

Several additional Muslims have been arrested since Sunday for cheering on the Pakistani cricket squad.

A school teacher in Rajasthan lost her job when she shared a joyful status on WhatsApp following Pakistan's triumph. She was also detained on Wednesday, according to the Press Trust of India.

In Punjab, Pakistan's northernmost province, local media reported attacks on Kashmiri students who celebrated the country's win.

During the match, police in Indian-administered Kashmir punished students and staff at two medical institutions for violating a severe anti-terror statute by screaming pro-Pakistan slogans.

According to the Associated Press, hundreds of Kashmiris went out into the streets after the game to celebrate. They screamed "Long live Pakistan" in the Himalayan region, which has endured a decades-long armed rebellion against Delhi.

Both India and Pakistan claim the entire land but only control a portion of it. It has sparked two wars between nuclear-armed neighbours.