Students and teachers at the Government Degree College (GDC) Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir protested against being labelled as an “unlawful entity” in a recent police order. The order, issued during a security review meeting following an encounter in the area, incorrectly identified the college alongside known militant groups.
The police order, dated February 16th, listed the GDC Shopian while detailing entities involved in activities warranting action under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This inclusion sparked outrage and protests, with students and faculty expressing shock and condemnation. Protesters carried placards and banners demanding an apology and a correction to the order.
College authorities immediately took up the issue with the district administration and the police, seeking clarification and a rectification of the error. Principal Manzoor Ahmad Mir described the listing as a “mistake” and emphasized the college’s commitment to national integration and academic pursuits. He stated the college has always cooperated with security forces and actively promotes peaceful education.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Shopian, Tanushree Singh, acknowledged the error and issued a revised order on February 19th, removing the GDC Shopian from the list of unlawful entities. The revised order stated the inclusion was a “clerical error” and apologized for the inconvenience caused.
Despite the correction, protests continued, with students demanding a public apology from the police to restore the college’s reputation. They expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of the initial order on their future prospects and the overall image of the institution. Local political parties also criticized the initial order, calling for a thorough investigation into how such a mistake occurred and demanding accountability. The incident has raised questions about the due diligence process followed during security assessments and the potential for misidentification of legitimate institutions.
