The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar has ordered an immediate ban on all collective religious activities in open and shared hostel spaces, the institute said in a directive issued by the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) on Friday. Corridors, balconies, rooftops and common rooms across all hostels are covered by the order; students remain free to practise their faith privately in their rooms, the circular added.
“It has been observed that certain activities are being organised in common areas which may disturb the peaceful academic environment of the hostels. To ensure discipline and harmony among the diverse student body, all religious gatherings in common areas are strictly prohibited with immediate effect,” the circular stated.
The directive warns that any violation will be treated as an act of indiscipline and may invite strict action under institute rules. Hostel wardens have been instructed to enforce the order and ensure compliance across campus.
The ruling follows rising tensions after the Bajrang Dal’s Cachar unit submitted a memorandum to district authorities alleging that hostel spaces were being misused for “jihadi activities” and unauthorised prayers. The memorandum also accused portions of the administration and some faculty of bias, claiming Hindu students were prevented from celebrating Saraswati Puja while Iftar and Eid events were allegedly encouraged.
The Bajrang Dal further alleged that certain mess practices and the use of common areas were insensitive to Hindu sentiments and demanded a probe into the roles of specific faculty members. Institute authorities have not publicly responded to those particular allegations, but described the DSW directive as a routine administrative step intended to preserve the institute’s secular ethos and to avoid friction among students from diverse backgrounds.
The controversy comes against a backdrop of earlier incidents that put the campus under scrutiny: in September 2025, five Bangladeshi students were suspended and deported after a violent clash in a hostel during which narcotics were reportedly recovered, and a Special Investigation Team had previously examined claims of a “radical nexus” involving a former international student and potential Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act violations. The Bajrang Dal has warned of protests if its demands are not addressed, even as the institute moves to enforce its latest order.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/nit-silchar-bans-religious-gatherings-in-shared-hostel-spaces/articleshow/130516783.cms
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Publish Date: 2026-04-25 19:42:00
