Agitating AMU students suspended

Following the murder of a student, agitators went on a hunger strike demanding removal of the vice-chancellor. The university has been closed indefinitely
Sadiq Naqvi Delhi Hardnews

Six students of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) were suspended on Thursday for misconduct and indiscipline during last week's agitation on the campus following a student's murder.

Agitating students, however, had earlier dropped the demand to remove Vice-Chancellor (VC) PK Abdul Azis. Following the murder last month, a group of students sat on a hunger strike in the campus. They demanded the removal of the VC and other senior officials of the university.

Hundreds of students had taken to the streets, blocked rail traffic and demanded that the accused be handed over to them. They also accused the university authorities of siding with the district administration in the shoddy handling of the case.

Sensing trouble, the VC ordered the closure of the university indefinitely. This is the second time when Azis has ordered the closure of the university. Earlier, the institution was shut down when three students were murdered in separate incidents on the campus in 2007. Then, the students had turned violent and the official residence of the VC was torched.

This time, when the hunger strike on the campus yielded no results, the students under the banner of AMU Students' Struggle Committee (AMUSSC) shifted to Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

Referring to the murder of undergraduate biochemistry student, Shahnawaz, a press statement by AMUSSC read, "Shahnawaz had to go outside the campus because of a recent order by the VC to close down all canteens by 10 pm even though the library is open till 2 am. The AMU administration, therefore, cannot escape the moral responsibility of this tragic incident."

Irfan Khan, secretary of the AMUSSC, had earlier told Hardnews, "In the last 27 months, the VC is violating the principle of natural justice. Enquiries are pending against him on charges of plagiarism and unscrupulous use of university funds. Hence, he should be out of his office. But he is still holding office to influence the enquiry."

Incidentally, Khan is one of the six students suspended on Thursday. After the recent murder, students had held peaceful protests and there was no violence, claimed Khan. "Still, the VC had unleashed a "terror raj" and ordered the closure of the university," Khan said. The students also demanded the restoration of the students' union.

The AMU Teacher's Association has also condemned the closure of the university saying it will jeopardise the career prospects of the students. This is the fourth time that a student of the university has been murdered in the last 27 months.

The VC, however, had defended his decision. "It has sent a shockwave through me and every discerning soul that a handful of students could vitiate the atmosphere of an extremely pleasant and vibrant teaching and learning environment prevalent in the Aligarh Muslim University. It is a real tragedy that those who "finance and control them" from outside are coming out to support the 'satanic' forces who are bent upon fomenting unrest in the University," he had said in an appeal to students and guardians.

The recent incident happened on October 25, 2009. Shahnawaz, a final year non-resident BSc student, had gone for dinner to an eating joint close to the campus. An altercation reportedly broke out between him and unidentified persons over parking a motorbike. Soon after, he was shot dead.