Student unrest at Maulana Azad University over strict rules for girls, bad infrastructure

The Maulana Azad Urdu University (MANUU) witnessed large scale unrest on campus after hundreds of students demanded the resignation of its proctor S A Wahab and other staffers on Monday.

Both staff and students were protesting since Saturday against former vice chancellor Mohammad Miya who was invited by one section of the staff to inaugurate a block of the university guest house.

Another section of staff staged a sit-in at the gate blocking the entry of Miya into the campus, while students accused Miya of indulging in favouritism and added that a university car carrying him, nudged the wheelchair of professor Syed Mahmood Kazmi, a report in the Times of India adds.

The protests gained momentum on Monday morning after two students were allegedly manhandled on Wahab's orders, who is also the chief security officer of the university.

(Image: Facebook/Rizwan Calicut)

Infuriated students blocked the main gate and barred staff from entering the university. Around 500 students went on to gherao the proctor as the crowd echoed with demands for his resignation.

Students even reportedly handed Wahab papers so that he could write his resignation letter.

Around 1,200 students also boycotted classes and held demonstrations in front of the administration block of the university throughout the day.

(Image: Facebook/Rizwan Calicut)

The chief demands of these students were the restoration of monthly fellowship and better facilities for their hostels, which they claimed, were in poor condition and overcrowded. 

According to a report in The New Indian Express, the protesting students also alleged that the university administration had been imposing restrictions on girl students on the campus and that they were not allowed to come out of their hostels after 6 pm, even for a visit to the library.

“The administration has also been victimizing those students who spoke against the officials. For instance, the university did not release the results of a former president of a students union for demanding better facilities at hostels,” a student told the newspaper.

Later in the day, members of Manuu Teachers Association also joined the protest, as the Cyberabad police entered the campus.

However, the police have claimed that no student was detained.