Guwahati: The Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) in Karnataka’s Udupi district prohibited a teacher from teaching after it was claimed that he inquired about the name of a Muslim student and connected him to “Ajmal Kasab,” the Pakistan-based lone terrorist who was apprehended alive for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and executed in 2012.
A video of a student and professor fighting earlier on Monday after the professor allegedly linked the Muslim student to terrorist Ajmal Kasab was extensively circulated on social media.
The engineering student is seen arguing with his teacher in front of his classmates in the 45-second purported video which was posted on Twitter by a number of users.
When the student’s name was revealed to be Kasab, the professor reportedly remarked, “Oh, you are like Kasab!”
“26/11 was not funny. Being a Muslim in this country and facing all this every day is not funny, sir. You can’t joke about my religion, that too in such a derogatory manner. It’s not funny sir, it’s not,” the student shouted as the teacher tried to downplay his own remark.
“You are just like my son…” the professor said, trying to pacify the student.
“Will you talk to your son like that? Will you call him by the name of a terrorist?” the student replied.
When the professor said “no”, the student continued, “Then how can you call me like that in front of so many people? You are a professional, you are teaching. A sorry doesn’t change how you think.”
The other students were observing the contentious discussion in silence.
However, MIT barred the alleged instructor and published an apology letter.
“The institute has already initiated an inquiry into the incident and the concerned staff has been debarred from classes till the inquiry is over. We would like everyone to know that the institute does not condone this kind of behaviour and this isolated incident will be dealt with in accordance with the laid down policy,” the university said in its statement.
“The institute prides itself with one of the biggest diversity on campus and is committed to uphold our constitutional values of treating everyone alike, irrespective of their caste, religion, region, gender etc.,” the statement read further.
The top engineering institute made its decision after the professor who was allegedly in the video received a lot of negative feedback online.