Tension prevail after anti-encroachment drive at AMU

Protests erupted after an anti-encroachment drive by the authorities of Aligarh Muslim University in Bhamola locality in the campus with BJP leaders alleging that a cow was killed during the tension.
The incident took place yesterday when a team of AMU officials started removing temporary structures built within the premises of the colony for university's non-teaching staff leading to protests by some local residents from the adjoining area, police said.
According to a report filed by the AMU authorities at Civil Lines police station, about 200 protesters started pelting stones when the AMU staff were constructing the boundary wall.
Some local BJP leaders rushed to the spot and alleged that the cow which belonged to one of the residents of Bhamola was killed during the anti-encroachment drive.

Aligarh's Mayor Shakuntala Bharti, belonging to BJP, later arrived at the scene and demanded action against those responsible for the cow's death.
Police, however, clarified that the cow had died accidentally shortly after the anti-encroachment drive had ended.

The situation was further disturbed last night when some residents of Bhamola constructed a platform on the spot where the cow had been buried by the residents.
Some idols were also placed on the platform.
Early this morning, when this matter came to light, a team of AMU officials led by the Vice Chancellor, Lt Gen (Rtd) Zameer Uddin Shah reached the spot.

The VC apprised the District Magistrate of the situation and urged authorities to remove the platform and the idols.
In his letter to the DM, the VC alleged that the Mayor was trying to fan communal trouble using this incident as pretext.
Bharti, who went to the troubled area again today, denied this charge and said she had visited the area solely to sort out this matter.
A police team later arrived at the spot before noon and removed the platform.
"We have removed last night's structure after taking local residents into confidence," DIG Aligarh Zone, Govind Agrawal told PTI.

Agrawal said the district authorities have made it clear that any future step will be taken after verifying all legal documents.
He said that no one would be allowed to take the law in his own hands and the law will be enforced strictly.