AMU Students Call Off Dharna After Assurance from District Administration
Image for representational use only.Image Courtesy : The Financial Express
The protesting students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Monday night (February 18) called off their agitation demanding the removal of fake charges against them after a meeting with the district administration and University Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor.
On February 12, sedition charges were levied after a clash following a confrontation with a crew of Republic TV. An FIR was filed based on a complaint by a Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha leader Mukesh Lodhi who said that ‘hundreds’ of AMU students surrounded his vehicle, assaulted him and fired at him. The complaint also accused the students of shouting pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans.
The agitating students were assured by the district authorities that no vindictive action would be taken against any student in the meeting that took place at the residence of the VC.
Speaking to NewsClick, students’ union secretary, Huzaifa Amir Rashadi, said, "AMUSU team met the Aligarh District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police Akash Kulhari and Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor over the fake FIR and they assured us that they will soon remove all the fake charges against students. Few days back a student Mohd Talib was arrested by the police and was sent to police remand. The administration also assured to release him after court proceeding and they (police administration) will not further book any student under fake charges. If they backtrack then we will start a movement again.”
When asked about law student Ajay Singh's rustication, Huzaifa told, "On February 23, there will be a meeting of disciplinary committee where he will be rusticated. We have been assured by the administration.”
It should be noted that the university had been pushed into the news following escalation of tension within the campus after Ajay Singh, grandson of Dalveer Singh, BJP MLA from Barauli in Aligarh, started demanding construction of a temple on campus.
Sedition Charges Removed
Fourteen AMU students, including their union president, were booked under sedition charges after violence broke out between two student groups on the campus on February 12 over reports of a planned visit by All India Majli-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi. The protest intensified on Monday, February 18, after the arrest of a student from the university campus on Sunday night. The student has been identified as Mohd Talib, who was arrested on charges of vandalism and promoting enmity between two communities.
Also Read: JNU Redux? 14 AMU Students Booked For Sedition After Row With Republic TV Crew
Speaking to NewsClick, Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhari said, "Charges of sedition have been already removed against all fourteen students. Investigation is going on in other cases.”
AMU Proctor Mohammad Mohsin Khan told NewsClick, "It has been assured by the district administration that no innocent student will be unnecessarily booked. They have also assured that no vindictive action will be taken against any student and justice will be meted out after carefully scrutinising all allegations as per the law. This will be a completely transparent inquiry. Meanwhile, the sedition charges have been revoked and Mohd Talib will be released tomorrow."
District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh told PTI, "We have given an assurance that no innocent student would be harassed. Further action including arrest of those named in the FIRs would only be taken after a thorough inquiry."
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