Two days after drama unfolded at National Institute of Technology, Hazratbal Srinagar over a blasphemous video, the institute on Thursday instructed all students to vacate hostels with immediate effect.
The university’s instructions were being made in pursuance of declaration of winter vacations at the institute.
“Pursuant to declaration of Winter Vacation for students w.e.f 30.11.2023 vide Order No. 60 of 2023 issued under endorsement number NITS/R/23/600 dated 30.11.2023 all hostel boarders (Boys and Girls) are instructed to vacate the hostel with immediate effect,'” dead the official order.
Meanwhile the students of NIT Srinagar in a written press statement said that they took out a peaceful procession on November 28th responding to an Instagram post that deeply offended religious sentiments at our college.
“We demanded the accused student’s suspension to maintain communal harmony and urged for legal action through an FIR. Both demands have been met, emphasizing our commitment to a multicultural, non-divisive environment through peaceful means, urging against misrepresentation,” read the statement.
Want multicultural environment in our institution, say local students
On 28th Nov, we carried out a peaceful procession because we were deeply hurt with the story uploaded on Instagram by a student of this college primarily because our religious sentiments were hurt and the case would’ve been the same if it was the other way around and someone else had forwarded provocative videos against any other faith or culture because we believe that a place for education has no room for divisive or even potentially divisive elements, the students/alumni/faculty/workers of this institution have spent the past decades building an environment of mutual respect and tolerance for each other irrespective of their religion, caste or culture, all of which was grossly violated by the act of uploading such a post.
Every step and slogan of our protest was peaceful and non-divisive, our only demands were that the student accused be debarred from college to prevent communal elements to alter the communal harmony of this institution and an FIR be launched so that law runs its course and no one takes the law in their own hands.
As of now, both our demands have been met and we would request everyone to uphold and respect the commitment and hard work we demonstrated on the 28th of November towards the maintenance of a multicultural and non-communal environment in our own institution through peaceful measures and not paint it in any other colour, the statement read.
Those sharing content to trigger communal frenzy, separatism will face strict action, warns Police
Jammu Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain emphasized strict actions against social media content capable of inciting communal unrest, promoting terrorism, or disturbing peace
He affirming the police’s duty to prevent disrespect towards Prophet Muhammad (SAW) or any religious group.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu, DGP Swain discussed the recent derogatory video posted by an NIT student, highlighting the police’s intent to apprehend those spreading objectionable content disrupting communal harmony or instigating violence.
He urged prompt reporting of such content to prevent its circulation and assured that those deliberately inciting unrest or causing harm would be held accountable.
The DGP reiterated the police’s commitment to preserving communal harmony and respecting all religious communities, affirming that legal action would follow its course regarding the NIT student.