The University of Jammu has suspended a professor for referring to freedom fighter a “terrorist”.

The professor of political science at the University of Jammu, Tajuddin, referred to Bhagat Singh as a “terrorist” during a lecture. A clipping of the lecture went viral on social media, sparking outrage.

Enraged at the remark, students of the university wrote a letter to Vice-Chancellor Manoj Dhar, demanding an action against Tajuddin.

The university later ordered a probe into the incident.

The university has also ordered Tajuddin’s suspension and said he could not take classes till the probe was over.

Tajuddin, however, clarified his remark, saying his intention was to not hurt the sentiments of people. He said, “I also consider Bhagat Singh a revolutionary. He is one of the people who sacrificed their lives for the country.”

He said that the video going viral was part of a longer lecture and was misinterpreted.

I was teaching about the Russian revolutionary Lenin and in that context, I said state calls any violence against it ‘terrorism’. Someone took a 25-second video out of my two-hour lecture. The terrorist word came in that, it wasn’t what I meant. Still, if anyone is hurt, I’m really sorry for it., the professor was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

[with inputs from online reports