News Analysis India

Tag: Allahabad University

  • Cross FIRs lodged by students, security guards in Allahabad University violence case

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: With the Allahabad University campus remaining closed on Tuesday following a violent clash between students and security guards, two cross-FIRs were lodged at the Colonelganj police station in Prayagraj.

    The clash had taken place on Monday leaving around a dozen students injured.

    While one FIR was lodged by a former student leader Vivekanand Pathak against 30-40 security guards of the university late on Monday, the other was lodged by a university security guard against eight student leaders on Tuesday.

    Confirming the registration of two FIRs from both sides, inspector Colonelganj, Ram Mohan Rai claimed that the probe into the violence was on.

    However, a heavy police contingent, comprising RAF, PAC and local police, was deployed on the campus even as varsity authorities had announced the closure of the university on Tuesday.

    The Police and district administration were busy talking to the agitated students on Tuesday as they had given an ultimatum of 48 hours to the police authorities to act against the security guards. They had also lodged an FIR against AU chief proctor Prof Harsh Kumar in the matter.

    Former student leader Vivekanand Pathak, who is state general secretary of the Congress party, had lodged a complaint with the Colonelganj police on Monday night itself. Pathak had named three security guards — Prabhakar Singh, MK Pandey and Tara Chandra — in his complaint. The FIR was lodged on his complaint against 30-40 unnamed persons as well.

    The second FIR was lodged by Prabhakar Singh, the security guard against eight student leaders including Pathak on Tuesday.

    LUCKNOW: With the Allahabad University campus remaining closed on Tuesday following a violent clash between students and security guards, two cross-FIRs were lodged at the Colonelganj police station in Prayagraj.

    The clash had taken place on Monday leaving around a dozen students injured.

    While one FIR was lodged by a former student leader Vivekanand Pathak against 30-40 security guards of the university late on Monday, the other was lodged by a university security guard against eight student leaders on Tuesday.

    Confirming the registration of two FIRs from both sides, inspector Colonelganj, Ram Mohan Rai claimed that the probe into the violence was on.

    However, a heavy police contingent, comprising RAF, PAC and local police, was deployed on the campus even as varsity authorities had announced the closure of the university on Tuesday.

    The Police and district administration were busy talking to the agitated students on Tuesday as they had given an ultimatum of 48 hours to the police authorities to act against the security guards. They had also lodged an FIR against AU chief proctor Prof Harsh Kumar in the matter.

    Former student leader Vivekanand Pathak, who is state general secretary of the Congress party, had lodged a complaint with the Colonelganj police on Monday night itself. Pathak had named three security guards — Prabhakar Singh, MK Pandey and Tara Chandra — in his complaint. The FIR was lodged on his complaint against 30-40 unnamed persons as well.

    The second FIR was lodged by Prabhakar Singh, the security guard against eight student leaders including Pathak on Tuesday.

  • ‘Azaan’ sound off: Prayagraj IG bans loudspeakers from 10 pm to 6 am days after controversy

    By IANS
    PRAYAGRAJ: The Inspector General of Police, Prayagraj, has asked the district magistrate to ensure a ban on the use of loudspeakers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

    This is in response to a complaint filed by Allahabad University Vice Chancellor Sangita Srivastava seeking restrictions on the use of loudspeakers, early morning in mosques.

    The ban will cover use of all loudspeakers and public address systems at public places.

    In a letter to the district magistrates and Senior Superintendents of Police in the four districts that fall under the Prayagraj Range, IG K.P. Singh said the officials must implement orders of the Supreme Court and the Allahabad High Court.

    The letter directs the district magistrates and police chiefs to implement a ban on use of loudspeakers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in accordance with environment laws and past court orders.

    In her complaint, Prof. Sangita Srivastava has stated that she is ‘forced to wake up too early every day’ due to ‘azaan’ being recited on a loudspeaker. This, she stated, leads to headache through the day and impacts her work.

    ALSO READ | ‘It disturbs sleep, causes headache’: Allahabad University V-C seeks ban on loudspeakers for Azaan

    Sangita Srivastava had sent her complaint to District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami on March 3.

    In January 2020, the Allahabad High Court had ruled that no religion advocates use of loudspeakers for worship.

    The petitioner had challenged an administrative order in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh where the use of loudspeaker for azaan had been banned.

    The high court had said, “No religion prescribes that prayers are required to be performed through voice amplifiers or by beating of drums. If there is such a practice, it should not adversely affect the rights of others, including that of not being disturbed.”

    Delivering its order, the high court cited a Supreme Court judgment from 2000 in which the court held that the freedom to practice religion was subject to public order, morality and health.

    Prof. Sangita Srivastava had cited the court order in her letter.-

  • ‘It disturbs sleep, causes headache’: Allahabad University V-C seeks ban on loudspeakers for Azaan

    Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: A letter, written by Allahabad University Vice-Chancellor to Prayagraj DM around two weeks ago, has created a flutter in the social circles as it is a complaint about alleged “noise” emanating from a mosque situated in the vicinity of her residence in the Civil Lines area of the city causing noise pollution.

    However, a prominent Muslim cleric of Lucknow Idgah and chairman of the Indian Centre of Islamic Education has reacted to the letter by demanding “mutual respect of religious sentiments of all the communities”.

    The letter with the subject mentioned as “Noise Pollution in the Civil Lines, Prayagraj” was written on March 3 by Prof Sangeeta Srivastava, the recently-appointed VC of Allahabad University. She had addressed the letter to Allahabad DM Bhanu Chandra Goswami expressing her grievance and demanding its redressal.

    She has complained in the letter that the morning Azaan (the call to prayers at 5.30 am) from the nearby mosque is causing noise pollution and disturbance to her sleep.

    “The sleep is so disturbed that it does not resume even after trying very hard. This also results in headaches throughout the day, causing losses in working hours,” the letter read.

    “An old adage — ‘your freedom ends where my nose begins’ — holds true here. I am not against any religion, caste, or creed. They may perform the Azaan without the mike so that others are not disturbed. Even before Eid, they announce Sehri on the mike at 4.00 am. This practice also creates a disturbance toother people. The constitution of India envisages a secular and peaceful co-existence of all communities which needs to be practised in letter and spirit,” says the letter.

    A top police official in Prayagraj confirmed they have received the letter. Prayagraj IG KP Singh said that the letter had reached his notice. 

    “Supreme Court guidelines say that say noise pollution is not permissible between 10 pm to 6 am and no announcements are permitted using public address systems. If this is happening there should be specific permission or else action will be taken. We are studying the letter and will take action to uphold the orders of the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court,” said the IG while interacting with media persons. 

    In response to the letter written by the AU V-C, Prayagraj police approached the said mosque and got the volume of the mike reduced so that it did not hinder the sleep of the residents of the Civil Lines area.

    According to Kalim, who manages the mosque, a Sub-Inspector from the local police station had come and told us that due to the high volume of the address system, people of the locality were getting disturbed by the morning ‘Azaan’. ‘So, the volume of the mike was reduced,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the VC came under strong criticism from a prominent Lucknow-based Muslim cleric. In a video message, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, a member of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, condemned the VC’s letter in strong terms. 

    “Our country is known for Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb and everyone has mutual respect for all religions. As a result, ‘Azaan’ from mosques and sounds of ‘bhajan kirtan’ from temples have not caused disturbance to anyone’s sleep. Mosques are already implementing the orders of the honorable High Court in this regard and so I would appeal that everyone should respect the sentiments of others’ religion.”