Protests at NIT Srinagar against social media post on Prophet Mohammed

SRINAGAR | Updated: 29 November, 2023 2:21 pm IST

SRINAGAR: A social media post by a student of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar has resulted in widespread protests across the campus for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of students at the institute.

Hundreds of students at the university took to the streets to protest against an allegedly blasphemous post on Prophet Mohammed. The post was shared on Instagram by a non-resident student triggering outrage among the other students present at the campus, who claimed that it was derogatory and hurt their religious sentiments.

However, the situation later assumed normalcy after the institute’s authorities assured action against the student. Presently, the authorities have written to the police authorities to initiate legal action.

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Professor Atiqur Rehman, the Registrar of NIT Srinagar said that an inquiry is underway and the student who had allegedly posted the social media post was denied permission to appear for the examinations following the allegations. “The student was sent home today early in the morning and he was not allowed to sit in the ongoing examinations,” Rahman said to The New Indian.

“The video he shared on Instagram had been sent to him by someone from the USA. The situation has been pacified and we assured action into the matter. Inquiry is going on and (legal) recommendations will be followed,” the Registrar said, adding that the police have registered a case.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, V K Birdi said that a case has been registered under relevant sections and investigations are underway. “We were informed that students at NIT Srinagar are agitating after some social media post hurt their religious sentiments,” IGP Kashmir said, adding that the Registrar explained to them action was being taken.

IGP Kashmir said that the police had registered a case after receiving a written document from the Registrar. “We have registered a case under relevant sections and investigations are underway,” said Birdi.

Earlier in 2016, clashes had broken out at the institute following India’s defeat to West Indies in the T-20 World Cup semi-final, leading to a closure of the campus for many days.