NIT on boil: J&K Police warns of action against social media posts inciting communal tension

The warning by the police comes a day after authorities booked an engineering student of the NIT, Srinagar, for allegedly 'outraging the religious feelings'.

A day after authorities booked an engineering student of the NIT, Srinagar, for allegedly “outraging the religious feelings”, Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday warned that sharing posts on social media that have a potential to trigger communal frenzy will invite strict action.

On Wednesday the police booked a student of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar for allegedly “insulting Islam” and “outraging the religious feelings”, as protests spread in Kashmir following reports of an objectionable post shared on social media by the student.

Hundreds of students in Srinagar on Wednesday raising pro-Islam slogans held street protests and sought strict action against the erring student.

Sensing trouble the police booked the student and also warned that sharing videos, posting texts and messages on social media that have a potential to trigger communal frenzy, disrupt peace, promote terrorism and separatism will invite strict action as per the law.

“The police respect the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and are duty bound that nobody is allowed to disrespect the Prophet. No element will be allowed to disrupt the communal harmony for which Kashmir is known for ages together. Nobody will be allowed to damage or disrespect any religious community,” J&K police chief R R Swain said.

The incident was reported after at least seven Kashmiri students from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) were booked under UAPA for allegedly cheering for Australia during the recent ICC World Cup Cricket Final played on November 19.

The NIT authorities also declared winter vacation in the middle of semester exams and asked students to vacate hostels with immediate effect after tension peaked inside the campus, where authorities heightened security cover around the college to thwart any further escalation of the situation.

“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 hostels with immediate effect,” reads a circular by the NIT.

NIT Srinagar gets a large number of students from across the country; a big majority of them are not from the Kashmir valley but from Jammu and other parts of the country. The faculty, on the other hand, is mostly local, though there are also teachers from elsewhere in India.