MANUU Warns Students Against Unrest in Campus, Threatens to Close Hostels

Hyderabad:Amidst ongoing protests at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (Manuu) over poor hostel conditions and the abrupt cancellation of student union elections, the university administration issued a stern warning to students, urging them to maintain normalcy on the campus and refrain from activities that could disrupt the smooth functioning of the institution.

The unrest began earlier this week when students alleged that they were being served substandard food in the boys' hostel for several days. Matters escalated when they confronted hostel authorities, claiming that they were met with abusive language and aggressive behaviour.

The situation worsened when the university abruptly cancelled student union elections, which were scheduled for September 24, further antagonizing the students were keenly awaiting the first-ever presidential debate at Manuu.

Soon thereafter a meeting was held between Vice Chancellor Prof. Syed Aminul Hasan and senior officials on Sunday, to address the situation. It was followed by a formal appeal to students and an announcement that a committee has been formed to look into their grievances and resolve the issues at the earliest.

However, the university also expressed concern over reports of a handful of students allegedly trying to create unrest on the campus, particularly in hostels.

Going further, the statement read, “It has been reported through the students' community that a few students are deliberately creating false videos, photos, and news with the intent to malign the reputation of the university and creating issues in the hostel and mess.”

In a bid to curb such activities, the university has decided to refer these matters to the cybercrime police for further investigation and has warned ‘errant’ students of appropriate action.

The administration also cautioned, “If any disruption continues, the university will be left with no other option but to switch over to the online mode of teaching for the remaining duration of the ongoing semester-2024. All hostels will be closed, and students will be asked to vacate.”

The appeal, signed by the registrar, was widely circulated on campus notice boards and online platforms, with copies sent to all relevant university associations and departments. The university has called on students to focus on their studies and research work and attend classes as scheduled to ensure the smooth running of the semester.