A day after a bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi that resulted in at least 13 fatalities, anti-Muslim graffiti surfaced on the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) campus in Kolkata. Reports from Alt News indicate that messages such as “Muslims and dogs should not enter the premises” and “No dogs and Muslims” appeared on the boys’ hostel, CV Raman Hall.
The graffiti was drawn on both sides of the main entrance door. One side featured an older message stating “Dog shouldn’t enter the premises,” altered with the addition of “Muslims &” in white chalk. The opposite side bore fresh inscriptions declaring “No Muslim” and “No Muslim allowed.” Additional defacement was noted on the east-wing staircase railing, where “No Dogs and Muslims” was written.
Upon discovering the graffiti, students initially lodged a verbal complaint with the administration. ISI Kolkata Director Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Dean Biswabrata Pradhan, and Hostel Warden Subhamoy Maitra inspected the site alongside members of the general affairs committee. The director openly condemned the vandalism.
A formal written complaint was later filed requesting an investigation. Students mentioned the potential effectiveness of CCTV footage near the hostel entrance but reported that the administration denied access to the video, although they indicated a willingness to examine the matter further. They proposed organizing a sensitization program with mandatory attendance.
On November 12, a group of 10 students from various academic levels met with Dean Pradhan to seek an official response. The Dean indicated plans for outreach seminars in January and noted that security personnel had been stationed at the hostel gate. However, students expressed concern over the lack of a comprehensive inquiry, stating that only the director could authorize such actions.
While Dean Pradhan promised a public statement regarding the incident, no such announcement had been made by the evening of November 12. This delay led some students to speculate about potential attempts to downplay the situation.
The ISI, recognized as one of India’s premier educational institutions and designated an ‘Institution of National Importance’ since 1959, operates multiple campuses across the nation, including those in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Tezpur.
The graffiti incident coincided with a bomb blast in Delhi where an explosive-laden vehicle detonated near the Red Fort, triggering backlash and Islamophobic sentiments both online and offline. Social media was inundated with hateful rhetoric targeting the Muslim community, escalating hostility particularly against Kashmiris.
In Barmer district, Rajasthan, police intensified railway checks, specifically singling out Muslim passengers, as seen in videos circulating on social media. Within hours of the blast, individuals on platforms like Instagram began identifying supposed culprits, with some comments calling for a “cleanup” of the community.
Despite police pleas for restraint, certain media outlets perpetuated narratives that linked the incident to the broader Muslim community. On social media channels, derogatory terms and calls for collective punishment became prevalent.
The incident also reignited anti-Kashmiri sentiments similar to those observed after previous attacks, compounding the challenges faced by Kashmiri students and migrants, who reported increased scrutiny, harassment, evictions, and job denials.
Reports indicate a concerning trend in which landlords in regions such as Delhi–NCR are evicting Kashmiri tenants. Additionally, students in institutions across Uttar Pradesh have been subjected to identity checks and derogatory remarks. The Gurugram police requested residential societies to compile lists of residents from Jammu and Kashmir, further highlighting the environment of increasing suspicion and discrimination.
This report initially appeared on Maktoob Media.
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