Srinagar:
Noor Mohammad Bhat, a lecturer in a government college, was arrested in Srinagar today after he set a question paper allegedly to incite anger and violence.
Police say the English test paper for the BA First Year students glorified stone pelters and demonised the security forces. For example, one of the questions asked was, " Are stone pelters the real heroes? Discuss."
In another instance, students were asked to translate an Urdu passage which in English would read, " Kashmir is once again in flames. People in cities and villages are crying in pain. Rulers are still in deep slumber. It appears that they have turned blind, deaf and dumb."
"It is extremely inflammatory and it is against the government. It encourages the youth of today to indulge in the same kind of activities as they have been indulging in. This is something that cannot be encouraged and we have taken action against all such people and, therefore, action against him is also warranted," S M Sahai, the Inspector General of Police said.
Kashmir University authorities say they have asked the lecturer to explain, and a panel is examining the question paper before any action is taken against him.
"In our system we have basically academic control on the colleges and administrative is of the government. We are right now processing the case. Within one or two days decision, regarding what kind of action, will be taken in the case,'' Dr A M Shah, the Controller of Examinations for the Kashmir University told NDTV.
The police are also looking at whether Bhat was instigated by some one to set such an ' inflammatory' question paper. And while they justify their action of arresting Bhat, there is now a debate on where the line is between academics and unlawful activities in Jammu and Kashmir.