Two killed in violent clashes on AMU campus

Two persons were killed in a gun battle between rival groups on the campus of AligarhMuslimUniversity, forcing authorities to deploy Rapid Action Force and order a ‘major clean-up’ operation in AMU hostels.

The violence left an expelled student dead on Saturday night while another youth, who was injured in the clash, succumbed to injuries in hospital on Sunday, AMU spokesman Rahat Abrar said.

Violence erupted on the campus around last midnight, following a clash between two student groups leading to the death of Mahtab, DIG (AligarhRange) Govind Agarwal, who led the police operation, said.

Agarwal said trouble started when a resident of Mumtaz hostel was assaulted and his room set afire. The victim rushed to the proctor’s office to file a complaint.

As soon as news of the incident spread, students belonging to two rival factions gathered and a clash broke out.

Police said Mahtab was shot dead late last night near the Proctor’s office, where the warring groups exchanged fire, set ablaze a jeep and over half-a-dozen bikes, besides indulging in arson and torching the Proctor’s office building.

Mohd Waqif, who was critically wounded in the firing, was rushed to Delhi where he succumbed to injuries.

According to AMU officials, Waqif was not a student but was seeking admission to the University and staying near the campus for preparing for the engineering entrance test.

An AMU official said tension between the rival groups, belonging to Azamgarh and Sambhal regions of Uttar Pradesh, has been simmering for quite some time now.

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, in connection with the violence.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed at all sensitive spots, especially in view of the entrance test for the engineering college scheduled for today with over 13,000 candidates appearing from AMU campus centre alone.

The entrance test, however, passed off peacefully amid strong security measures though an uneasy calm prevailed on the campus, District Magistrate Balkar Singh said.