Key Takeaways
- The JK Police registered an FIR under multiple IPC sections after a blasphemous post circulated online.
- Student protests erupted at NIT Srinagar and spread to other colleges, leading to a temporary suspension of academic activities.
- Authorities warned the public against rumour spreading and pledged legal action against anyone inciting violence.
Srinagar: Even as protests against an allegedly blasphemous social media post by a non-local student of National Institute of Technology (NIT) spread to other colleges in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir Police on Wednesday said that it has taken cognizance of the incident and registered an FIR.
The case at Police station Nageen was filed on Tuesday under sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, language, etc.).
It also invoked section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the Indian Penal Code.
The Police appealed to people to desist from spreading rumours or false information.
“They shouldn’t fall prey to false propaganda of anti-social elements. Legal action shall be taken against those who are found to be involved in provocative act/instigation,” a police spokesman said.
The case was filed upon the receipt of communication from NIT authorities, police said.
On Tuesday, the students of the NIT held a protest against the incident and demanded action against the non-local student who had uploaded the video on social media.
A day after the protests at NIT Srinagar , the academic activity was closed in the Institute. The class work was suspended as a precautionary measure by the NIT authorities after consultation with the local authorities, officials said.
“All the academic activities, including classes, examination and administrative work remained suspended today,” an official said.
Meanwhile, the protests over the social media post spread to other colleges in Srinagar today.
The students of Amar Singh College and Islamia College of Science and Commerce took out a march inside their respective campuses demanding action against the student for sharing a social media post which allegedly hurt religious sentiments.
Police said on Tuesday that the non-local student of NIT had posted the video which was not his own, but taken from YouTube.
