AMU Increases Security After Altercation Over Holi Celebrations

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh witnessed heightened security measures at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus on Thursday evening due to a clash between two student groups over Holi celebrations. The incident, which occurred near the Zakir Hussain College of Engineering compound, involved an altercation sparked by the use of colours in the festivities, leading to police and university officials intervening to calm the situation.

A complaint was lodged at the Civil Lines police station by Adit Partap Singh, a post-graduate student at AMU, who claimed he was assaulted during the incident. Singh's complaint named 10 students, who have now been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In response to the events, AMU Proctor Mohd. Waseem Ali emphasized that the university has always supported the freedom to celebrate all festivals, including Holi, which sees participation from students across different communities.

Ali detailed that while a special request by Singh to host a Holi function at the athletics stadium on Wednesday was denied due to policy, traditional celebrations within hostel premises were encouraged. Despite advisories against organizing a large-scale event at the stadium, Singh attempted to proceed with his plans on Thursday, leading to the confrontation.

Superintendent of Police City M S Pathak assured that police acted swiftly to restore peace upon receiving reports of the altercation. He confirmed that preliminary investigations indicated no serious injuries resulted from the clash. The incident underscores the university's ongoing commitment to fostering a harmonious environment for celebrating cultural festivities while highlighting the challenges of managing large gatherings on campus.