Compensate AMU students hurt in police attack: HC

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, February 25

In a major embarrassment to the UP Government, the Allahabad High Court on Monday come down heavily on the cops, administration and Aligarh Muslim University for police repression on the campus on the intervening night of December 15-16 last year.

A Division Bench issued a comprehensive set of recommendations after the six-member team of National Human Rights Commission submitted its report to the court. The HC order has directed the UP Chief Secretary to provide “suitable compensation” to six students who had been grievously injured.

The court has directed the state DGP to “identify the policemen as seen in the CCTV footages involved in stray incidents of damaging motorcycles and unnecessary caning the apprehended students”.

The order directs for suitable action against the police as per rules and provisions that exist for subordinate offices in UP Police.

The order observed that “the police force should be sensitized and special training modules be carried out to inculcate professionalism in handling such situations”.

Similar orders have been issued for the Director General of CRPF and RAF. The DGP has also been asked to ensure that the SIT set up on January 6, 2020 investigates all related cases on merits and in a time bound manner.

The High Court expects the DGP and senior officers to set up a robust intelligence gathering system to counter rumor-mongering, especially on the social media.

Giving a rap on the knuckles of the AMU Vice Chancellor, Registrar and other authorities, the court said the need to establish a mechanism of better communication with the students fraternity so that they are not influenced by outsiders and rusticated unruly students.