Let there not be taint by association

An act of terror never ends with the blast itself. Its shock waves ripple far beyond the immediate scene of crime - unsettling communities, disrupting lives, and triggering a chain of consequences that often fall hardest on those who have nothing to do with the violent act. The 10/11 Delhi car bombing, which killed 15 and led investigators to an explosives haul in Faridabad's Dhauj, have now pulled Al-Falah University in the Haryana village into the eye of the storm. Over 1,000 students at the institution suddenly find themselves in limbo as it faces intense scrutiny.

The probe has revealed that a few individuals linked to the blast - including Umar Un Nabi, who reportedly drove the explosives-laden car - had associations with Al-Falah's medical college as faculty members. This alone warrants a thorough probe. Every link must be examined, question pursued, and lapse - if any - brought to light. But as the investigation expands, concerns unrelated to the blast have begun surfacing. The university's membership in Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has been suspended, and regulators have accused it of falsely claiming NAAC accreditation on its website. These deserve scrutiny. But it's also fair to ask whether the investigation has opened floodgates to every pending or peripheral accusation, regardless of merit.

In the middle of all this stand more than 1,000 students. Nothing suggests they had any role in the terror attack. They can't be made to become collateral damage. Authorities up the line must ensure they continue to attend Al-Falah without interruption, their degrees remain valid, and - if needed - they are offered transfers to safeguard their academic future. Investigate fully. But protect the innocent from charges 'by association'.