SRINAGAR: Protests at National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar over alleged blasphemous remarks targeting a particular religion by a student from outside J&K escalated on Thursday, spreading to other college campuses in the city. In response, NIT declared winter vacations from Thursday, ahead of the originally scheduled mid-December break, instructing students to vacate hostels immediately.
This coincided with the J&K higher education department’s directive to all government degree colleges of the Kashmir region to conduct online classes from December 1 to December 31, or until winter vacations are announced, citing the early onset of winter as a challenge for students commuting to their institutes. It mentioned that all internal and semester-end exams will proceed according to schedule.
A YouTube video containing purportedly offensive remarks triggered demonstrations at NIT on Tuesday, leading to the rustication of the student, who was sent home that very day. Police registered an FIR against the accused student on Wednesday.
Despite the rustication, protests continued on Thursday, demanding the arrest and punishment of the accused. Peaceful demonstrations and slogan-shouting were observed in various educational institutes in Srinagar, including Amar Singh College and Islamia College of Science and Commerce. Authorities at Islamia College suspended classes for a day, but informed students that backlog examinations for the third semester would proceed as scheduled.
J&K DGP RR Swain issued a warning against sharing videos and posting texts on social media with the potential to incite communal frenzy, disrupt peace, promote terrorism, and separatism. He emphasised that strict action, in accordance with the law, would be taken against those showing disrespect to any religious group or community.
“No element will be allowed to disrupt the communal harmony Kashmir is known for. Nobody will be allowed to damage or disrespect any religious community,” Swain said.
This coincided with the J&K higher education department’s directive to all government degree colleges of the Kashmir region to conduct online classes from December 1 to December 31, or until winter vacations are announced, citing the early onset of winter as a challenge for students commuting to their institutes. It mentioned that all internal and semester-end exams will proceed according to schedule.
A YouTube video containing purportedly offensive remarks triggered demonstrations at NIT on Tuesday, leading to the rustication of the student, who was sent home that very day. Police registered an FIR against the accused student on Wednesday.
Despite the rustication, protests continued on Thursday, demanding the arrest and punishment of the accused. Peaceful demonstrations and slogan-shouting were observed in various educational institutes in Srinagar, including Amar Singh College and Islamia College of Science and Commerce. Authorities at Islamia College suspended classes for a day, but informed students that backlog examinations for the third semester would proceed as scheduled.
J&K DGP RR Swain issued a warning against sharing videos and posting texts on social media with the potential to incite communal frenzy, disrupt peace, promote terrorism, and separatism. He emphasised that strict action, in accordance with the law, would be taken against those showing disrespect to any religious group or community.
“No element will be allowed to disrupt the communal harmony Kashmir is known for. Nobody will be allowed to damage or disrespect any religious community,” Swain said.
