ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY-Capitalising on Communal Violence


Capitalising on Communal Violence PROBABLY for the first time since its inception, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was the scene of communal violence on the night of May 10. That night shops in the Shamsad and 2iakaria markets adjoining the University Campus, belonging mostly to Hindus, were set on fire by mobs of students. More gruesome than this, four persons were murdered by unknown assailants and one employee of the University was killed in police firing making a total of five dead Scores of students were seriously injured in the clash with the police. The University has been ieclared closed till July 2 and all the hostels lave been vacated. Life is at a standstill the University area, parts of which are still under round-the-clock curfew. This violence in the compus contrasts sharply with last year's communal riots in Aligarh city when the AMU students (with Muslim-non-Muslim ratio of 55:45) had provided shelter and relief to riot victims.