Haryana Police has taken cognisance of physical assault on some Kashmiri students in Mahenderhgarh and an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code has been lodged in Mahenderhgarh police station, the Jammu and Kashmir police said on Saturday.

One of our officers is in touch with the boys as well, they said.

The action comes hours after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti  urged the Haryana government to take stringent action against the perpetrators of the assault on Kashmiri students and demanded a probe into the case.

Two students of the Haryana Central University  were beaten up while returning to the campus after offering congregational Friday prayers in Mahendragarh town.

"Me and my friend had gone to the mosque to offer namaz yesterday. After we came out of the mosque, we noticed some people following us. Just as we were leaving on my motorbike, a group of 15-20 people started beating us,' Aftab, one of the Kashmiri students assaulted, said.

"No one came forward to help us. Soon after the police arrived at the spot. We went to the hospital for a check-up and returned to university campus. We told the faculty about the incident and lodged a complaint with the University,' he said.

After the incident was reported, an irked Mehbooba took to Twitter and said, 'Shocked and disturbed to hear reports of Kashmiri students being assaulted in Mahendargarh, Haryana.' -- ANI

Photograph: ANI