Patna: A controversy has erupted after a private medical college owned by newly elected RJD Rajya Sabha member Ahmad Asfaque Karim published its prospectus showing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Pakistan on the cover, effectively excluding PoK from Indian territory.

The "error" was detected after copies of the prospectus for the 2018-19 academic year were distributed among students of the college located in Katihar, around 300km northeast of Patna. On Sunday, a joint team of Katihar police and the civil administration visited the institute and seized the prospectus.

Katihar sadar sub-divisional police officer Anil Kumar said he quizzed the college officials to ascertain the reason behind the goof-up in alleged tampering with the country's map. "This is a serious issue and legal action will be initiated against the institute's officials," he said over phone. He added that the college manager, when asked, claimed they had written to the printing press to rectify the mistake.

Earlier, Katihar superintendent of police Vikas Kumar said action would be taken on the basis of the report of the probe team, which the district administration formed soon after the matter came to its notice. "The report is awaited," he said, adding that it won't be prudent to comment at this stage as it was related to the nation's sovereignty.

Katihar district magistrate (DM) Poonam did not respond to repeated calls made on her official number. However, sub-divisional officer (Sadar) Neeraj Kumar said: "The inquiry report will be submitted to the DM by Sunday evening." Rajeev, however, refused to share any more details.

RJD MP Asfaque admitted the error on the part of the college and said it would be rectified at the earliest. "I have asked the authorities concerned to collect the copies of the prospectus from the students," he added. Asfaque, however, blamed the printing press for the error. "There is no deliberate attempt to tamper with the map of India. The prospectus carried the map just to trace Katihar on the map of the nation," he said.

Corroborating Asfaque, a senior official in the college management, Parvesh Sharma, said: "This is just a printing error. There was nothing intentional in it."

Reacting to the issue, Union minister Giriraj Singh alleged it was yet another attempt to divide the country. "I have been warning against concerted efforts being made by supporters of Muhammad Ali Jinnah to divide the country," he said, adding that publishing the wrong map of India is manifestation of a large conspiracy.

RJD national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari expressed concern too. "I have not gone through the prospectus. If it is true and the map has any discrepancy, the institute should apologise in writing for the mistake," he added.