Republic TV Row: AMU Students Accuse Admin of Backtracking on Assurance

New Delhi: Despite the district administration’s "assurance", the bail application of Mohd Talib, an undergraduate student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), who was arrested on charges of alleged vandalism and promoting enmity following the February 12 campus violence, was rejected on Wednesday by the local court.

On Wednesday, Talib’s plea was heard by Additional Judicial Magistrate Kuldeep Singh. After the dismissal of the bail plea, a large number of students gathered at Bab-e-Syed gate and started protesting and accusing the district administration of backtracking on its promise during the meeting.

The agitating students said they were assured by the district authorities that no vindictive action would be taken against any student in a meeting that took place on February 18 at the residence of the Vice Chancellor.

They said they had called off their six-day agitation after getting a "verbal assurance" from the district administration and Vice-Chancellor Tarique Mansoor, that no vindictive action would be taken against any student. Newsclick had carried a story where University proctor Mohammad Mohsin Khan had also said that Mohd Talib would be released on February 20.

Read More: AMU Students Call Off Dharna After Assurance from District Administration

Sharjeel Usmani, a B.A final year student, told Newsclick, "The students are furious over the arrest of Talib. The District administration (DM, SSP and SP city) had promised that no students will be booked and harassed in the garb of inquiry. But as soon as the protest was called off, the administration betrayed the students. Talib was not granted bail and even if he is granted bail in coming days, he will have to fight the case in court… The SHO of the police station concerned had reportedly said that they registered the FIR that they found fit! Who is the SHO to decide which FIR would be fit and which would be not! The police is playing into the hands of the ruling government and is acting like an oppressor."

The Public Relation Officer (AMU) Omar Saleem Peerzada told Newsclick, "The matter is sub-judice in the court and they haven't come out with a decision yet. As far I know, they have applied for bail and the result is awaited"

When asked if students had called off their protest after getting an assurance from district administration and University that all the fake charges would be taken back, Peerzada said, "District administration is different and judiciary is different."

On February 12, sedition charges were slapped after a clash following a confrontation with a crew of Republic TV. An FIR was filed based on a complaint by a Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha leader Mukesh Lodhi who said that ‘hundreds’ of AMU students surrounded his vehicle, assaulted him and fired at him. The complaint also accused the students of shouting pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans.

On February 18, the protesting students called off their agitation demanding the removal of fake charges against them after a meeting with the district administration and University Vice-Chancellor.

"A week" after the AMU incident when students called off their protest, the Aligarh Muslim University Teachers’ Association (AMUTA came out in thier support and demanded a written assurance that all fabricated charges levelled against AMU students in connection with the February 12 violence at the campus would be dropped.

The teachers' body claimed that all the charges were slapped on the students only to protect the Republic TV crew.

Students' union secretary Huzaifa Amir Rashadi, while speaking to Newsclick said, "On Wednesday CJM rejected Talib's plea, but we appealed again and today was the hearing. Lawyers from both sides argued, and he will be released tomorrow probably. Though the court did not disclose the order but I assure Talib will come out."

Read More: AMU Being Used to Provoke Communal Polarisation