AMU Withdraws Profiling Order of J&K Students Amidst Criticism

Srinagar: Authorities at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Wednesday withdrew the circular that called for the profiling of students from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) enrolled at the varsity after the move drew flak from students and political parties in the region. 

An earlier order dated December 27, from the office of the controller of examination at the university, had sought the personal information of students including the name, parentage, address and mobile number.

The order directed all departments to gather the information on a priority basis that was meant to be further provided to the Superintendent of Police, Aligarh, according to the order.

The order was termed as discriminatory and prejudicial by student organisations and several political parties also called for the rollback of the order.

“AMU has issued an order asking various departments to furnish details about Kashmiri students. A discriminatory move which reeks of surveillance of the Kashmiri students. Urging @AMUofficialPRO to revoke the order forthwith and restore the lost sense of security among the students,” Kashmir’s Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami tweeted after the order was issued. 

Tarigami’s concern regarding the security of Kashmiri students at the university stemmed from the apprehensions of students from the university. The order had heightened their concerns regarding their safety after a recent row between students of the union territory and others.

Last month, at least three students were injured after they were allegedly beaten up inside the campus which the students protested against many said was a part of hostilities that they had been facing. Many including students organisation like J&K Students Association (JKSA) and regional political parties also expressed concerns regarding the safety of more than 1400 students enrolled at the varsity.

The fresh order regarding the “profiling” of students had only compounded these concerns.

“Kashmiris have been studying at the Aligarh Muslim University for decades and not ever had they been asked to furnish these personal details. If it was genuine then why is it that the students from J&K are being asked for these details and why not from other regions and states,” National Conference Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar told NewsClick.

The students at the university had said that they will not provide these details as they considered it a “breach of their privacy.”

The J&K Students Association which called the order “unjustified” and demanded its rollback in a statement, issued after the withdrawal, urged the students to not feel worried now.

“After requesting authorities to withdraw the circular, since it has led to fear, and scepticism among J&K students in the Varsity, we have been assured and told that exercise will stop onwards now,” the student organisation said.

Zubair Altaf, a research scholar at the University who had also expressed concern over the order, said that the withdrawal has eased stress amongst the students to an extent.

“We appreciate that the University withdrew the order finally. I think there should be more interaction between the administration and the students that could iron out problems that many students have been facing,” Zubair told NewsClick.