Aligarh Muslim University students demand probe, action against ‘saffron goons’

Tempers were high at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus on Thursday with more than five thousand students gathering at its main gate-- Baab-e-Sayyad—demanding a judicial probe against right-wing activists who entered AMU and clashed with the students. Around 28 students got injured after the police resorted to lathi-charge. They had barged into the campus to remove the portrait of Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

At around 11am, as many as 150 students reached the spot amid slogans like "We want justice" and "Say no to fascist forces". The crowd swelled within few hours and the entire area was cordoned off by the police and the paramilitary forces. The students were also joined by the hundreds of teaching and non-teaching faculty members and alumni.

AMU Students' Union (AMUSU) president Mashkoor Ahmed Usmani, who got injured in the melee, alleged that it was a 'planned attack'. "Armed activist of several Hindu outfits including Yogi Adityanath's Hindu Yuva Vahini were escorted by the police to the campus at around 2:15 pm on Wednesday. Raising provoking slogans, they start moving towards guest house number 3 where former Vice-President Hamid Ansari was present," he said. However, Hindu Yuva Vahini state general secretary PK Mull denied any involvement of his organisation in the incident.

"Instead of arresting those goons who were trying to attack the former Vice-President, the police lathi charged the students," Usmani said. "We will go to the National Human Rights' Commission and file a petition in the Allahabad High Court," said AMUSU vice-president Sajad Subhan.

"We live in harmony at this campus and nobody questions anyone's patriotism. The right wing activists who barged into the campus tried to break that unity," said Akshay Singh, a final-year BSc student. "Why do we have to prove our nationalism even after 70 years of Independence to the people who think that Jinnah's portrait at the campus makes the entire AMU community a traitor?" asked Riyaz Siddiqi, another student.

At around 4 pm, after breaking the locks of their hostels, hundreds of female students also joined the protest. “We are here to join this historical movement at the campus. We want to give a clear message to those who are trying to make political benefits by sparking such controversies that we are united,” said Naba Naseem, President AMU Women’s college.

Later in the evening, students threatened to boycott the classes and continue protest for the next few days if their demands were not met. “We will also start an agitation against the silence of the Vice Chancellor over the issue and will demand his resignation if he will not speak to us until tomorrow,” said Sajad.

Meanwhile, according to Inspector General of Police, Aligarh, Sanjeev, Gupta, two FIRs have been registered in the incident under several sections on the IPC.