A lecturer of a Government college was on Friday arrested for allegedly setting a paper filled with questions related to the recent unrest in Valley. "Noor Mohammad Bhat, a lecturer at Gandhi Memorial College, has been arrested," IGP (Kashmir range) SM Sahai said.
Noor Muhammad Bhat, who teaches English Literature at Gandhi Memorial College in Srinagar, set students questions like 'Are the stone-pelters real heroes? Discuss.' They were asked to translate a paragraph highlighting the plight of people subjected to atrocities and `callousness of the Government and political leadership'
Noor Muhammad Bhat was called to the Old City Police Station and detained.
Sources said authorities in the University of Kashmir informed the police about the lecturer's whereabouts. He has been lodged at Nigeen Police Station and would be presented before court on Saturday for further remand. A committee headed by a senior police officer has been formed to investigate the matter.
Bhat has reportedly set two question papers for the annual first year degree course examination. On Wednesday, commerce students were asked to write a passage on stone-pelters. "Are the stone-pelters real heroes? Discuss".
Students were also asked to translate an Urdu paragraph, which highlighted situation on celebration of Id festival amid strict curfew. On September 11 this year, Id-ul-Fitr was marked with violence and most of the Valley was under unprecedented curfew.
Arts and science students also received a similar question paper on Thursday. They were asked to translate an Urdu paragraph highlighting the plight of the common people subjected to atrocities and 'callousness of the Government and political leadership'.
The paragraph reads, "Kashmir is burning once again. The red hot blood of youngsters is spilt like water. Police and Army are even killing infants with torture. Bullets are pumped into women and young girls. People are crying in pain, both in urban and rural areas. The rulers are in deep slumber. It seems they have turned deaf, dumb and blind. There is no dearth of political leaders but they are in disarray. Their (perhaps pointing towards separatists) programmes are not people-friendly. People's prayers also seem to be ineffective."
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Shiv Murari Sahai said, �We have arrested a lecturer in connection with the question paper.
Investigation is on and further arrests are not ruled out. � This is for the first time that question papers set by Kashmir University have created a stir because of the out-of-syllabus political content. However, the intent of setting up such questions would be investigated.
Kashmir University conducts examinations in all colleges of the Valley, including professional and Government-run degree colleges.
University authorities are known for taking effective measures against protestors, stone-pelters and secessionist activists. Vice-chancellor Professor Riyaz Punjabi is highly protected academic in Kashmir, known for his antisecessionist credentials.
Interestingly, question papers undergo a discreet process involving a bevy of paper-setters, vetted by the Department of Examinations, headed by the Controller.
"Normally, such kind of questions should not have been included in the question papers,"admitted Ali Muhammad Shah, Controller of Examinations.
�Necessary action, if needed, will be taken against the paper setters,� he declared.
However, fingers are pointed at the University�s intent. �It becomes fishy as to how these papers were selected despite the contents, which can be objectionable,� said lawyer Muhammad Ashraf.
Some students said they were surprised to see the question paper. �I was suspicious whether it was a ploy to know my ideas about the recent uprising, especially on stonepelting. But, despite these thoughts I solved the paper, � said Mir Mohib, a south Kashmir student.
A college lecturer said that setting a question paper in the context of the current situation is not an offence. �The terminology like stone-pelting, curfew, bloodshed, massacre, atrocities�have entered into common parlance in Kashmir.
If an English examiner asks students to write it, this can�t be construed as seditious or unlawful,� he claimed.