Students of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANNU) protest inside the university in Hyderabad. PTI Photo Students of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANNU) protest inside the university in Hyderabad. PTI Photo

A controversy is brewing in Maulana Azad National Urdu University where students have started a protest demanding that a police complaint lodged against some unnamed students be withdrawn.

The police complaint was lodged by the university’s Provost Prof Aziz Bano and Proctor Abdul Wahid alleging that students misbehaved and manhandled them on Tuesday during a protest to demand relaxation of certain rules that the university imposed on them.

Women hosteliers are demanding that the rule that they should seek permission of Aziz Bano who is also the Chief Warden, if they wish to go out of the hostels after 7 pm, be revoked. The hosteliers said that they have to sign at three places if they have to go out after 7 am even if it is to the library. “It is unfair. Boys can stay in the library till midnight but girl students cannot,” a student said. Some boys also complained that the university asked them not to wear ‘lungis’ in the campus which enraged students from Kerala.

On Monday, the students first got together to protest against the visit of former VC Mohammed Miya who faced allegations of irregularities and sidelining Urdu. The protest quickly turned to demanding the resignations of Prof Aziz Bano and Abdul Wahid for allegedly restricting the freedom of students in hostels.

However, the protest got out of hand and many students allegedly manhandled Prof Aziz Bano and Prof Abdul Wahid. Prof Aziz Bano in her complaint even alleged sexual harassment. “They kicked and punched me and pulled off my head scarf. They surrounded me pushed me to the ground near the lecture hall,” Prof Bano said in her complaint at Raidurgam Police Station.

Prof Wahid stated in his complaint that he feared for his life after he was chased by the students and manhandled. On Thursday, a heavy contingent of police was posted at the campus to maintain peace. The campus was calm but students are demanding that Prof Bano and Prof Wahid withdraw their police complaints.

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