With protests over an alleged social media post on the Prophet by a student from outside Kashmir simmering, Srinagar’s National Institute of Technology has announced winter vacations and asked students to vacate the hostels. The state government has also suspended offline classes in the Valley’s colleges and directed the college administrations to switch to online classes. It has also issued an order prohibiting “posting, uploading or propagating by way of forwarding or sharing” any message or content that promotes “ill will on religious grounds” and is likely to disturb public order and tranquility. According to the police, a case under IPC sections 153 and 295 has already been filed against the NIT student, based on a complaint by the Registrar. Protesting students are, however, demanding his arrest.
