RAWALPINDI: Some college students set fire to the British Council library here around noon today [March 1] in protest against the killing of two Kashmiri youths by British police in the Indian High Commission in London on Feb 20, police said. The fire, which was soon put out … burnt a number of books and some furniture in the library.

Two students, Agha Sajjad Haider of the local Government Degree College, and Ahmed Nadeem of the Cantonment Board Sir Syed College, were arrested by the police and charged under section (436) PPC (arson). Later they were let off on bail by the Assistant Commissioner. The incident occurred when the bodies of the two boys, Hanif and Basharat, were being taken in a procession through the city streets after their arrival here this morning from London. The British Council staff [said] that a few students … entered the library … and sprinkled inflammable liquid on the carpets and furniture. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from London,] Sir Denis Greenhill, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office ... summoned the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires, Mr Shaharyar Khan, to discuss reports that the British Council library in Rawalpindi was set on fire by demonstrators this morning.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2023