Students flag Umar’s ‘radical, gender-biased’ conduct at Al Falah

Even as Al Falah University maintains it had “no knowledge” of Red Fort suicide bomber Dr Umar Un Nabi’s motives, students and faculty have told investigators that the former faculty member routinely displayed radical and gender-biased behaviour on campus.

According to investigators, multiple students reported that Umar was “over conservative” and regularly discriminated against girl students during his classes. “He was over conservative and exhibited radical behaviour. The girl students revealed that he did not want to talk to them and made them sit separately from the boys in class,” an investigator said.

Female students told the agencies that Umar would refuse to make eye contact, ignore their questions and insist on strict gender segregation. “The girls claimed that while they raised their hand and even stood up to ask doubts Dr Umar would turn deaf or would only answer on being asked thrice,” the investigator added. Some students said they had tried raising concerns with university officials, suspecting gender bias, though investigators said they are “yet to verify official record of these complaints.”

Kashmiri students also recounted that Umar would often lecture women —especially those from Kashmir — against adapting to city life. He allegedly cautioned them “not to fall in NCR glitz trap” and urged them to uphold burqa and hijab traditions.

Investigations have further revealed that Umar, along with co-accused Dr Muzammil and Dr Shahin, frequently disappeared from the university for extended periods — sometimes days, sometimes a month — without drawing scrutiny. Faculty members allege the university showed unusual leniency toward the trio.

“The trio would take leaves together and sometimes even without leaves would be absent for days. While other faculty had to struggle for leaves, the university gave them special treatment. Umar took Kashmiri students under his wings and even acted as their guardian in hostels. The students too enjoyed slices of leverage and took liberties with other faculty as well,” one of Umar’s colleagues reportedly told the police.

Investigators said early findings indicate the trio “acted out of place” and showed a “radical approach,” though university authorities never flagged any concerns. Agencies are now probing whether the three faculty members were involved in radicalising students on campus.