SRINAGAR: J&K Police have filed an FIR against a student of Srinagar’s Government Medical College (GMC) over an alleged blasphemous postamid protests. The absconding student has been suspended.
Classes at the medical college have been suspended for three days till Saturday because of the protests by junior doctors, students as well as faculty members over the post on Wednesday.As the demonstrations spread, authorities at Srinagar’s National Institute of Technology (NIT), 8-10km away, called off classes Thursday.
The FIR at Srinagar’s Karan Nagar police station followed a complaint from GMC authorities against the first-year MBBS student. He has been booked under IPC Sections 153 (provocation to rioting), 153A (promoting religious enmity), 295A (blasphemy) and 505(2)(b) (offence pertaining to places of worship). J&K police have appealed to people not to circulate the objectionable post and warned of action if they do.
One of the protesting doctors claimed the student was given an ultimatum to remove the post within three hours but he refused.
In a written statement, GMC’s Resident Doctors Association (RDA) deplored the act and urged the authorities to take decisive action. “Such an egregious transgression not only grievously hurts religious sensibilities of many but also imperils the very fabric of societal harmony and mutual respect, which we hold dear,” the RDA statement read.
Parallel to the police inquiry, GMC has formed a committee of 13 department heads to investigate the matter and take action, college authorities said, adding all involved are urged to maintain calm during this process.
“Such blasphemous behaviour is not tolerated within our institution. Therefore, we urge the authorities to take strict measures against the transgressor (sic). In solidarity, we stand unwavering in our commitment to uphold communal peace and to nurture an atmosphere of profound respect among all communities,” RDA said.
Classes at the medical college have been suspended for three days till Saturday because of the protests by junior doctors, students as well as faculty members over the post on Wednesday.As the demonstrations spread, authorities at Srinagar’s National Institute of Technology (NIT), 8-10km away, called off classes Thursday.
The FIR at Srinagar’s Karan Nagar police station followed a complaint from GMC authorities against the first-year MBBS student. He has been booked under IPC Sections 153 (provocation to rioting), 153A (promoting religious enmity), 295A (blasphemy) and 505(2)(b) (offence pertaining to places of worship). J&K police have appealed to people not to circulate the objectionable post and warned of action if they do.
One of the protesting doctors claimed the student was given an ultimatum to remove the post within three hours but he refused.
In a written statement, GMC’s Resident Doctors Association (RDA) deplored the act and urged the authorities to take decisive action. “Such an egregious transgression not only grievously hurts religious sensibilities of many but also imperils the very fabric of societal harmony and mutual respect, which we hold dear,” the RDA statement read.
Parallel to the police inquiry, GMC has formed a committee of 13 department heads to investigate the matter and take action, college authorities said, adding all involved are urged to maintain calm during this process.
“Such blasphemous behaviour is not tolerated within our institution. Therefore, we urge the authorities to take strict measures against the transgressor (sic). In solidarity, we stand unwavering in our commitment to uphold communal peace and to nurture an atmosphere of profound respect among all communities,” RDA said.