In a strange turn of events, the three Kashmiri engineering students who are facing sedition charges were rearrested by police on Monday, February 17, barely hours after they were given bail on the execution of a bond under Section 169 of CrPC. Studying at a private engineering college in Hubballi of Karnataka, they were arrested on Saturday for raising pro-Pakistan slogans and posting it on social media on the first anniversary of the Pulwama suicide attack that left at least 49 paramilitary troopers dead while more than four dozen were injured. However, following the execution of the bond, the college administration had seemingly taken a broader view of the matter - that it was a mistake of hot blooded youngsters, considering that they had already apologized, and it was deemed proper to spare them the horror of police cases and court appearances by letting them go and not pressing the matter any further than what it deserved. However, the police was coming under fire from many quarters for releasing the students. Members of Hindu outfits staged demonstrations outside the police station in the city. Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik also criticised the police for releasing the youth who he alleged had “demonstrated their anti-India vitriol on the first anniversary of Pulwama attack." According to reports in media, state’s home minister Basavaraj Bommai had also spoken with the police officials about the case. Buckling under the pressure of the known and unknown groups that have taken over the streets of this country, the college management as well as the Karnataka administration (which is ruled by a BJP government) did the unthinkable, by getting the students rearrested, barely hours after they were let go. Not only that. Upon their arrest, the students were produced before a court on Monday which remanded them to judicial custody till March 2. However, the matter didn’t settle there. In full view of the police, the three students were attacked by Bajrang Dal and ABVP activists on the court premises, leaving them scared and scarred. Now members of the Bar Association in Hubballi have passed a resolution to not represent the three Kashmiri students. These events are only going to aggravate the atmosphere, especially in the Valley at a time when the talk of building bridges and turning a new chapter in J&K is hogging the headlines. The Karnataka administration must adopt the path of mercy over legality which will indeed send out a positive message.