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Killing triggers violence in AMU

Special Correspondent

Rapid Action Force deployed after death of B-tech student

LUCKNOW: The situation in the crisis-ridden Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) turned critical on Thursday when students protesting the killing of a B.Tech final year student ransacked the Administrative block. The students, who were allegedly assisted by anti-social elements, also smashed the windscreens of some vehicles. The deceased, Kausar, belonged to Bhagalpur in Bihar.

The Administrative building houses the Vice-Chancellor's office, the Registrar's Secretariat, the office of the Controller of Examinations and the finance wing of the University.

In a memorandum to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Chancellor of the university, a group students demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing. The students accused a group of teachers of exploiting the situation for their selfish ends by giving it a "regional colour." Acting Vice-Chancellor Mohd. Salimuddin was present at the meeting. He later held separate meetings with the district officials, Deans of the University and the hostel provost in a bid to calm the situation. AMU has witnessed violence and arson for the last one month. The B.Tech student's killing on Wednesday night near the library of Department of Petro-Chemicals was the second in the last 15 days. Earlier this month, another student from Orissa, Mulla Mohd. Sabit Ali, was shot dead by unidentified persons near a University restaurant. No arrests have been made in the two cases.

Rahat Abrar, the Public Relations Officer of AMU told The Hindu from Aligarh that teaching was suspended on Thursday and examinations scheduled for the day were postponed after Wednesday's incident. He denied that the University was closed.

He said the police raided Suleiman Hall (hostel) on Wednesday night and recovered Kausar's motorcycle. He was reportedly shot dead by students who tried to snatch his motorcycle.

"Police and Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed and the situation was being closely monitored by district officials," said Prof. Abrar. Violence erupted on the campus after news of the killing spread. The P.R.O. said the Proctor, Akhlaque Ahmed, was manhandled by the mob. He was admitted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in AMU with serious injuries.

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