“I have submitted the report. I completed the inquiry within the stipulated time. The report has been sent to the government,” the probe officer, Nazir Ahmad Baba, told.
An official probe into the recent crisis at National Institute Technology Srinagar has indicted outstation students for “vitiating the academic atmosphere” on the campus.
The Jammu and Kashmir government had on April 7 ordered a time-bound inquiry into clashes at NIT following India’s defeat to West Indies in World T20 Cup on March 31. The inquiry was ordered by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh who had asked the Additional District Magistrate Srinagar to complete it within 15 days.
“I have submitted the report. I completed the inquiry within the stipulated time. The report has been sent to the government,” the probe officer, Nazir Ahmad Baba, told on Sunday.
He said he recorded the statements of students, faculty members, college wardens, police officials and shopkeepers who run their businesses inside the NIT campus.
Baba said few non-local students turned up for recording their statements. “However, non-local girl students came forward and recorded their statements,” he said, categorically denying to divulge the contents of his probe report.
However, a senior government official—in know-how of the probe report findings—said the report has indicted outstation students for “vitiating academic atmosphere” at the NIT campus. The report, according to him, mentions that local students, who are less in number, have been very helpful to non-local students every time.
The report, he said, mentions that non-local students have paid no heed to police requests during the campus protests that forced their lathi-charge.
The problem at NIT started on March 31 after India’s defeat against West Indies in the World T20 semifinal. While some Kashmiri students celebrated the exit of India from the tournament, the outstation students inside the campus took strong objection to these celebrations, leading to group clashes.
CRPF was deployed on the campus for next few days, while Home Minister Rajnath Singh called up Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and discussed the situation with her. And on April 6, the Human Resource Development Ministry at Government of India sent a team of officials to NIT while on April 7, Deputy CM Nirmal Singh visited Campus and ordered time-bound inquiry into the clashes.
Pertinently, the J&K police have registered two FIRs into the NIT incident. The first FIR was lodged on April 1 at Police Station Nigeen under sections 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 427 (mischief), 336 (endangering life of others) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).
The second FIR registered on April 5 where sections 353 (assault on public servant) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) were invoked. However, the FIR stands registered against unknown persons.
