AMU Hostels Evacuated After Anti-Citizenship Act Protest turns Violent, Cops Enter Campus; No Internet

New Delhi: Hundreds of AMU students protesting against the amended Citizenship Act clashed with police on Sunday at a campus gate after which the university adminstration announced closure of the institution till January 5. Internet services were suspended later in the night.

Aligarh Muslim University Registrar Abdul Hamid said the police entered the campus late Sunday night and clashes were reported from inside. "Hostels are beng evacuated," he said.

Aligarh District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said, "Internet services have been suspended from 10pm tonight to 10pm tomorrow (Monday) in Aligarh city, in view of the protests by AMU students."

The clashes at AMU started after an agitation by Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia students against the legislation turned violent and police used batons and teargas to disperse them. Several students were injured in the national capital.

The AMU students started gathering at the Babey Sir Syed Gate and shouted slogans against the law and police action on the demonstrators in Delhi. The AMU students broke the police cordon and fought pitched battles with the police.

AMU Proctor Prof Afifullah Khan said some security personnel were injured in brick-batting near the gate. An official of the Rapid Action Force, who sustained head injuries, was seen asking for a helmet in a video.

Tension prevailed in the area as police used batons and teargas to control the situation. Police have sealed all gates to the campus.

In view of the situation, the university authorities decided to declare winter vacation from Monday till January 5. Earlier, it was scheduled to start on December 23.

The AMU registrar said, "AMU has been closed till January 5. Hostels are being evacuated." He said police have entered the campus and clashes with protesters have been reported from inside.

"The university is closed from today. This is being done due to disturbances created by some anti-social elements for the last three days," the registrar said, adding no classes or examination will be held till January 5.

"All other offices will remain open as usual and the closure of the university is for the purpose of reading and examination only. The remaining examination will be conducted after 05/01/2020," the said in a statement. He said the schedule for examination will be notified later.

Ever since the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament, demonstrations that have turned violent on a number of occasions are being held at several places across the country, including university campuses. The amended Act grants citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Violent protests were witnessed near Jamia Millia Islamia on Sunday afternoon after buses were set on fire buses and protestors clashed with police. Soon after, police entered the university campus and blocked its gates to nab some "outsiders" who had entered the premises to hide, sources said. Some students reportedly got injured in the melee.

Earlier in the day, a video clip showing the Aligarh senior senior superintendent of police precariously clambering over a barricade and successfully persuading a highly charged crowd of about 5,000 protestors at the AMU to keep calm last Friday went viral on social media.

(With inputs from PTI)