Investigations by the Ranchi University (RU) authorities have revealed that an academician from Bihar had set the objectionable question on Prophet Mohammed for the MA History examination. For security reasons, the RU would keep his identity under the wraps. “Otherwise, he will be lynched,” said RU Vice-Chancellor A A Khan on Friday.

On Wednesday, student appearing for the MA History examination had a question pertaining to the Prophet: “Prophet Mohammed began his career as a trader and ended as a raider. Comment”. This led to violent protests across the city the next day, with a group of students even storming into the university campus and demanding the dismissal of the teacher who had set the question paper.

In a quick response, the RU cancelled the examination and ordered a probe to find out the identity of the teacher on Wednesday itself. The inquiry, conducted under the supervision of Khan, zeroed in on the panel of five teachers who were appointed by the University to set the question-paper and the name of the teacher was ascertained, RU spokesperson S S Akhter said.

Later, in a meeting, headed by the V-C on Thursday, the University decided to permanently debar the teacher from taking part in any of its examination activities, and to explore possibility of a legal action against him. It also decided to write to the V-C of the University in Bihar, which he represented, for initiating disciplinary action against him. On Friday, the RU

V-C’s office had already dispatched the letter in this regard, marking it as ‘strictly confidential’.

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