The holy month of Ramadan brings light to homes, enveloping people in love and warmth. Amidst the waiting for Ramadan’s crescent moon and the illumination in the city to welcome the holy month, a house lost its light forever. On the first day of March, the eve of Ramadan, a student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) identified as Mohd. Kaif, a Class 11 self-financed commerce student from Saiyyid Hamid Senior Secondary School, AMU, was stabbed in front of ABK High School, inside the AMU campus near Tuti Boundary, Jamalpur.
The barbaric killing of Kaif is associated with a minor social media comment, which escalates into a heated argument. As per the reports, the situation intensified to the point where kaif and latter decided to meet in person. As the argument snowballed, a group of individuals confronted Kaif. Sensing danger, he attempted to flee and was seen on CCTV footage trying to enter ABK High School. However, he was fatally attacked by the group. Following the incident, Kaif was rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
As per the reports, Kaif was on his scooter with his three acquaintances when a mob approached them. A heated argument unfolded after that, during which one of the assailants discharged fire and allegedly attacked Kaif with a sharp weapon.
A case has been registered at Quarsi police station of Aligarh against Shoaib, Ayan aka Prince, Faraz and Mazhar under sections 191(2) (rioting), 191(3) (rioting with deadly weapon), 190 (unlawful assembly), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) and 103 (murder) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Meanwhile, the incident has sent shockwaves to the AMU Community, with everyone associated with the campus expressing the concern for their safety. Was this the first time the AMU community was shaken to its core? There have been ample incidents,which have taken away the light of the family of AMU students.
The Year 2023: A Year of Mourning
A spate of chilling incidents occurred in the year 2023, leaving an indelible mark on the security of the AMU.
In 2023, a final-year MBBS student was injured during a firing incident after an alleged clash between two groups near the Maulana Azad Library on the AMU campus. Anika Roshan Khayal, 24, a resident of Shamshad Market in Aligarh, was critically injured when she was struck by a bullet while passing through the campus. She became the unfortunate victim of an accidental shot fired by one of the rival groups (non-AMU students) engaged in the clash. Following the incident, AMU’s proctor team evacuated some non-occupants from certain hostels.
In yet another incident in the same year, a shooting incident at AMU’s Medical College over extortion unfolded. The accused, Adnan Golden, allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 from the canteen manager, threatening to shut down the canteen without the monthly pay-off. When the manager refused, Golden fired several rounds and vandalized the canteen. According to Circle Officer Civil Line-Aligarh, Ashok Kumar, the firing incident occurred around 10 PM in the Civil Line area of Aligarh, after a dispute over a money transaction.
In the similar incident, a first-year undergraduate student at AMU was injured in a shooting incident at SS North Hall. Rehan, a first-year BA Arabic student from Moradabad, sustained a leg injury while heading to the dining hall. Conflicting reports of the incident surfaced, but it was confirmed that fireworks were being ignited in celebration of the release of former student Shoib Khan alias Yahiya, who had been granted bail in a previous case. Some of his supporters engaged in firing, leading to Rehan’s injury.
Additionally, in 2023, a Class 10 student at City High School in Aligarh allegedly poured petrol on another student and set him on fire after a brawl over a damaged schoolbag. The victim, Kaif, recalled, “I was sitting on the school ground when someone came, poured petrol on me, and set me on fire. My friends stopped him and doused the flames. There was no previous issue between us.” The accused was suspended from school, and the police filed an FIR.
The Year 2016: Another Year, Another Security Concern
In 2016, two students were killed, and offices and vehicles were set on fire on the AMU campus following a brawl between two student groups. Trouble began when a student named Mohsin Iqbal was beaten up in his hostel room, and his room was nearly set on fire. The same group allegedly threatened Mohsin’s brother, who was also an AMU student. This led to a clash outside Aftab Hall. After heated arguments, firing ensued for 15 minutes, with at least 30 rounds being fired. Two students, Mehtab (22) and Mohammad Waqif (18), died in the crossfire. Mehtab had been expelled over indiscipline, while Waqif was a Class 12 pass-out living near the campus. After the shooting stopped, a mob ransacked the proctor’s office, setting documents on fire, and vandalized the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) office. The violence continued as they attacked the Guest House and torched cars along the way. This disturbance was linked to old rivalries, with some hostels forming regional student groups to represent different areas of the state.
Year 2015: A final year student shot dead
In 2015, Alamgir, a final-year student of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), was shot dead on the campus after participating in a protest against Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV). He had protested against the group’s labeling of AMU as a “nursery of terrorism.”The incident occurred near the university’s Chemistry department when unidentified assailants on motorcycles opened fire on him. Following his death, agitated students gathered at the hospital, blocking access to the emergency department for several hours. An FIR was lodged naming four former AMU students—Shadab, Rehan, Munir Khan, and Ashutosh Mishra—as suspects. The university administration condemned the act and took measures to maintain campus order, including denying rumors about a funeral prayer being held at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence.
New Year, Same Story
In 2011, Asma Javed, the first woman to contest for the post of AMU student union president, was found dead in her apartment in Aligarh’s Shamshad Market area.Her body was discovered after neighbors reported a foul smell emanating from her flat. The police found that her apartment was locked from the outside.During the investigation, police arrested Javed Ul Hasan, a property dealer and close friend of Asma. Hasan reportedly confessed to the crime, stating that an argument between them escalated, leading him to strangle her in a fit of rage. He also admitted to using her ATM card to withdraw money after the incident.Prior to her death, Asma had filed a complaint against a restaurant owner’s son, alleging sexual exploitation under the pretext of marriage. She had also been involved in activism against sexual harassment during her time at the university.
In October 2009, students launched an agitation demanding the ouster of the Vice-Chancellor. The protest was sparked by the killing of B.Sc. student Shahnawaz Alam near the Aligarh railway station. The administration intervened to quell the student agitation, closing the university and asking students to vacate hostels.
Failure of AMU Administration in Maintaining Campus Discipline
Despite repeated violent incidents, the AMU administration has failed to maintain discipline. Security measures, including CCTV surveillance, were expanded after COVID-19, but they are only checked after incidents occur. Outsiders continue to enter the campus unchecked, and after each tragic event, strict discipline is enforced for only a few days before things return to normal.
Mohd Kaif’s murder is not an isolated event; it is part of a disturbing pattern of violence at AMU. The question remains: how many more lives will be lost before the administration takes lasting action? Why has AMU’s administration failed to maintain consistent discipline and ensure safety on campus, despite repeated incidents of violence over the years?
(This article reflects the personal opinions of the author and does not represent the views of FoEJ Media)
