After graffiti targeting a particular community appeared on the walls of the boys’ hostel at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata, the institute on Friday warned of severe legal action against those responsible for the “derogatory comments”.

“It has come to the notice of the institute authorities that hateful and derogatory comments have been recently displayed against the members of a particular community at several places in the Boys’ Hostel (C V Raman Hall) of the ISI… The Institute strongly condemns this incident in the strongest possible terms… and will take strict action in accordance with the law of the land against the perpetrators for hurting the sentiments of a particular community and trying to disrupt the social fabric of the institute,” a notice issued by the Dean of Studies, B Pradhan, read.

The graffiti appeared at several places inside the boy’s four days after a car blast in Delhi killed at least 10 people.

Stating that the ISI is founded on the principles of “inclusivity, mutual respect, harmony, and diversity,” the institute said, “The use of language that promotes hatred, discrimination or disharmony among individuals based on their religion, caste or community is a direct violation of our core values and the established code of conduct… Any activity or action that hurts the sentiment of others, implies any discrimination based on caste, religion, gender etc, or has the potential to affect the harmonious academic environment of the institute is unacceptable and needs to be denounced unequivocally.”

“Such an act creates a hostile environment and also tarnishes the reputation of the institute,” the Dean said, adding the institute will cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

So far, no police complaint has been lodged over the hateful graffiti.

Founded by scientist and statistician PC Mahalanobis in Kolkata in 1931, the institute gained the status of an Institution of National Importance in 1959. There are four centres of the ISI — in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Tezpur.