Kolkata: Islamophobic graffiti targeting Muslims appeared on the Indian Statistical Institute campus a day after the Delhi Red Fort blast. The messages were found at the entrance of the CV Raman Hall boys hostel. The graffiti included phrases telling Muslims not to enter the premises. Students reported both old and newly written messages on the door and staircase railings.
Students approached the administration soon after the discovery. ISI director Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, dean Biswabrata Pradhan, and hostel warden Subhamoy Maitra inspected the site. Students said the director condemned the act in front of them. They later filed a written complaint demanding an inquiry. Students asked for CCTV footage from a camera near the hostel gate. The administration denied the request and told them that they would examine the footage. Officials also suggested a sensitisation programme.
On November 12, ten students met the dean again. They sought a formal response and a timeline. The dean spoke about holding sensitisation seminars in January and said a security guard had been posted at the hostel gate. Students said these were the only steps taken in 36 hours. They expressed concern over the absence of an inquiry. They also noted that no public statement had been issued by the institute.
The graffiti surfaced amid sharp Islamophobic reactions after the Red Fort blast, which killed 13 people. Hate speech spread quickly online. Influencers and journalists amplified unverified claims targeting Muslims. Videos from Rajasthan showed police checks that focused on Muslim passengers. Social media users called for collective punishment. Hashtags targeting Kashmiris gained traction.
Reports have emerged of landlords evicting Kashmiri tenants and students facing harassment. Police in Gurugram asked housing societies to submit lists of residents from Jammu and Kashmir. Students fear further escalation on campuses if prompt action is not taken.
