By Mohd Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: In wake of clashes between rival student’s groups, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was closed sine die on Saturday. The students have been directed to vacate their hostels within 48 hours. All examinations have been cancelled by the university administration.
AMU which has witnessed three such sine die closures at the drop of a hat during past four years witnessed clash between two student’s groups in which at least five students received gunshots. AMU administration claimed that district administration in its report has termed the situation violent with recurrence of similar incidents. “We took the decision with a heavy heart but there was no other way to restore normalcy,” said AMU’s PRO Rahat Abrar on Saturday. He stated that special trains and buses have been arranged to meet the rush of students heading towards home.
The genesis of the clash is the demand of ouster of Controller (Admissions) Prof Ahmed Mustajab by a group of students. A group of students had earlier misbehaved with him forcing him to tender his resignation which the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Prof PK Abdul Azis had rejected. On Thursday, a student leader Mushtaq went to Controller (Admissions) office for some work and had a scuffle with Deputy Controller Mohd Rizwan. Mushtaq later lodged a report in this regard with the Civil Lines police station of Aligarh. On Friday, Mushtaq was attacked by another group near Zakaria Market. Later the two groups again clashed inside Proctor’s office. Firing from country made pistols injured at least five students.
Chief Proctor, Prof Mujahid Beg was held hostage inside his office. “The students even assaulted me inside the office. They were openly firing and some of them even threatened to kill me. I was lucky to survive the onslaught for full one and half hour. When the police force arrived things were controlled and they got be released,” said Prof Beg.
Meanwhile, AMU Students Union has decried the administration’s decision to close the institution sine die. “A job fair was to be held on Monday and in present prevailing conditions it is unlikely. The AMU administration has failed to maintain conducive atmosphere for academics in the campus,” said Abu Affan, President of AMUSU.