By TCN Staff Reporter,
Malappuram: In an incident that may shock the proponents of AMU regional centres, about a dozen North Indian students were brutally beaten up by local students at the Malappuram (Kerala) study centre of Aligarh Muslim University on Wednesday (10th August). As the attack was allegedly led by son of a Muslim League leader, neither AMU nor district authorities have taken any action in the case. Student bodies have condemned the incident and demanded swift action from the authorities of AMU.
According to media reports, a group of local students of AMU Malappuram centre violently attacked on the students of Uttar Pradesh studying at the centre on regional animosity. More than 11 students were reportedly injured and 3 among them are in serious conditions. The seriously injured students are from Aligarh and Hathras districts of UP.
A section of Hindi media reported that the lead instigator of this violent clash is the son of a Central University VC and the son of a prominent Muslim League leader of the state. It is said that due to the local biasness and the case being linked with high profile academician and politician of Kerala, the Kerala Govt is not swift in taking action against the attackers.
Several student leaders and bodies have condemned both the incident and indifferent attitude of the AMU authorities towards the incident.
Abu Affan Farooquee, President, AMU Students Union, said that AMU authorities in the last couple of years have suspended more than 200 students on nonviolent grounds but no action on this violent attack is surprising and shocking.
“The AMU authorities in the last few years have suspended more than 200 students. Even they suspended students on so called prima facie evidences for speaking to the press, writing on the AMUNetwork, or making documentary on the Dining Hall and other non-violent charges. Now it would be interesting to see whether AMU authorities take firm action on prima facie evidence against the students there in Mallapuram or not or ask for report after report from the Director there to subside the anger among the students community here,” Farooquee said.
He demanded the AMU authorities to send the culprits behind bars.
“The time has come that AMU authorities send these students behind the bars including the son of the VC of that Central University and other prominent leaders who are behind such violent attack on the student community there. The time has come that the AMU Authorities prove that they consider justice above all and won’t be biased on regional lines,” he said.
Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has also expressed shock on the incident and condemned slow action from authorities. The group demanded arrest of the culprits.
The Central Executive Committee of SFI, in a statement on 12th August, said, “The attack on these students was a preplanned one. Since rods and lathis were used many students sustained multiple injuries in the attack. The SFI CEC strongly condemns this brutal attack.”
In the signed statement, P.K. Biju and Ritabrata Banerjee, President and General Secretary of SFI respectively said: “The state UDF government and Muslim League goons with the assistance of the police virtually disrupt the law and order in the state. Though the police has registered a case the authorities were trying to protect the goons. The Central Executive Committee registers its strong protest in the incident and also demands the immediate arrest of the culprits.”
The Central Universities Research Scholars Association (CURSA), in a special meeting held on Friday (12th August), harshly reacted to the incident and questioned the creation of regional centres of AMU as they will only promote regionalism among Muslim students.
“Whatever be the purpose of regional centres of AMU, the incident of Malappuram has proved that these centres will only promote regionalism,” said Jasim Muhammed, president, CURSA. He further said that only regional bias is behind the attack on North Indian students in Malappuram.
He even urged the Union HRD Ministry to reconsider the creation of these centres.