2 dead in Aligarh Muslim varsity clashes, proctor's office set on fire
Lucknow: Two persons — a student and a former student — were killed in a clash between two groups at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) late Saturday night.
The angry students set the proctor’s office on fire and burnt two cars and half a dozen motorcycles parked near the vice-chancellor’s lodge and guest house. Firearms were reportedly used and two students were shot at in the ensuing violence.
The agitating students set a jeep and over half a dozen motorcycles on fire. The violence was so widespread that it took the police nearly two hours to defuse the situation at different spots on the campus.
The former student, Mahtab, who had been shot, succumbed to his injuries within one hour. The injured student, Mohammed Waqif, was shifted to Ganga Ram hospital in Delhi for advanced treatment where he died on Sunday.
According to reports, trouble began with a small incident on Friday — a fight between students near the Maulana Azad Library canteen. Two groups of students had a heated argument over the incident on Saturday and a student named Mohsin was assaulted in Mumtaz hostel and his room set on fire. The student rushed to the proctor’s office to lodge his complaint where two rival student factions also gathered and a clash broke out.
The warring groups exchanged fire in which a former student was shot dead and another injured. The mob also indulged in arson and set the proctor’s office building on fire. The violence continued till 2.30 am Sunday when additional forces were rushed in.
Sources said the students involved in clashes were from Sambhal, Azamgarh and Ghazipur.
They added that trouble between rival groups from Azamgarh and Sambhal districts had been simmering for some time now.
Dr Rahat Abrar, AMU PRO, said on Sunday that the police has been posted outside the campus and the situation is now under control. Deputy proctor Mehmood said the incident was being probed and the students found guilty would face punishment.
The Rapid Action Force has been deployed on the campus after an entrance test for B.Tech and B.Arch was held on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Lucknow, ADG (law and order) Daljit Chaudhary said on Sunday that they have identified the perpetrators responsible for the violence on the Aligarh Muslim University campus. “We are acting in accordance with the university officials. Those behind this crime have been identified, an FIR has also been lodged, and we will soon be able to nab the masterminds,” the police official said.
The police said an FIR has been registered against eight persons, including Mohsin Iqbal, a student of MA (political science) and seven others, most of whom are outsiders and former students.
