An alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Talha Mannan, and ten other unidentified individuals have been booked by police for allegedly making inflammatory statements and causing a public disturbance. The case was filed after a video of Mannan speaking at a protest on campus was widely circulated on social media.
The protests, which have been ongoing for three weeks, were initially against a recent fee hike at the university. During a demonstration, Mannan, who is now a research scholar at a university in Hyderabad, was filmed stating that the laws of the state did not apply to the university and that students would decide whether the main gate, Bab-e-Syed, would be open or closed, not the UP government.
A formal complaint was filed by a resident of Aligarh, Sanjay Arya, who stated that Mannan and his associates were holding unauthorized demonstrations and raising provocative slogans while waving a Palestinian flag. The complaint alleged that the video was a threat to social peace and harmony.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered at the Civil Lines police station. The charges include publishing or circulating false information and making statements that could cause public mischief. Police have stated that an investigation is underway and action will be taken accordingly.