NIT Srinagar announces winter vacation following protests against student’s social media post

NEW DELHI: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar has announced winter vacation starting from today, November 30, while two other colleges in the valley have announced suspension of academic activities for today. The decision came after students held protests at the NIT, Islamic College Srinagar, and Amar Singh College over a student’s social media post which allegedly hurt religious sentiments.

NIT Srinagar also asked students to vacate the boys and girls hostels while the two institutes have halted all the academic activities including classes, examinations, and administrative work for today.

While NIT Srinagar said yesterday that it is observing a holiday on November 30. However, the institute today announced that it is advancing winter vacation by 10 days. “Pursuant to approval of the competent authority, winter vacation for students of the institute shall be advanced by 10 days to commence wef 30.11.2023. PhD and PG students shall resume their work from 15th December 2023,” the NIT said in the recent notification. Following this, it asked hostellers to vacate with immediate effect.

On the other hand, the Islamic College notified that classes will be rescheduled from December 1. “Classwork of all the semesters and internal examinations, including T-series shall remain off tomorrow (30-11-2023) and will be rescheduled with effect from 1-12-2023. However, backlog examinations of 3rd semester shall be conducted as per schedule,” it said.

The protesters demanded stringent action against the non-local student who made the post on social media. The student has been sent home on leave. The protesting students blocked both the gates of the institute and raised slogans inside the campus of NIT Srinagar.

After the protests, police registered a case and started an investigation. A case has been filed against the student for promoting religious enmity between communities. The protests spread to Amar Singh College and Islamia College against the post.

"The police received information about a protest by students at the NIT campus. Upon investigation, it was discovered that a student had posted objectionable content on social media, though the video was not the student's own, but taken from YouTube," Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, V K Birdi told PTI. Birdi said the content of the post has hurt the religious feelings of the people.

(With inputs from PTI)