The Supreme Court (SC) of India ordered on Friday chief secretaries and director general police (DGP) of states and Union Territories to protect Kashmiris and minority communities, especially students, from violence over Pulwama attack.

The Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi passed these orders while hearing a petition by advocate Tariq Adeeb. During the hearing today, Gogoi has directed the government to prevent incidents of threat, assault on Kashmiris and minorities, Indian media reported.

The SC has also directed the DGP's of states to order their officers to act immediately to any complaints regarding any attack, harassment or violence. The court further ordered that the nodal officers appointed by the Centre should also ensure protection and prevent tensions.

In his petition, Adeeb requested the supreme court to direct the Centre to 'forthwith take steps to prevent threats, assaults, violent attacks, social boycotts, ostracism, evictions and other coercive acts committed by groups and mobs against Kashmiris and other minorities, particularly in the wake of the Pulawama attack'.