Varanasi, Dec 7 — Tempers flared at Uday Pratap College on Friday as a large group of students staged a demonstration demanding the removal of a mosque located on the campus. Hundreds of students gathered at the college gate, chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and waving saffron flags. Their attempt to enter the premises was thwarted by a heavy police presence.
Student leader Vivekanand Singh voiced the group’s stance, asserting that if the land on which the mosque stands does not belong to the Waqf board, the structure should be removed. “The mosque should not be there if it is not legally recognized as Waqf property,” he said.
In response to the unrest, the Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) confirmed that some individuals involved in the demonstration had been identified, and necessary actions would be taken against them. The rising tensions prompted the police to impose a restriction on outsiders entering the campus, allowing only students with valid identity cards from Thursday.
The situation stemmed from a confrontation earlier in the week. On Tuesday, students recited the Hanuman Chalisa while namaz was being offered near the mosque. This act of defiance led to a brief altercation, resulting in the detention of seven men, according to local police sources.
As the unrest continued, students formed a “student court” and sent an 11-point letter to the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board, demanding clarification on the mosque’s ownership within 15 days.
Mohammad Yaseen, joint secretary of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, responded to the controversy, stating that he had already contacted the Uttar Pradesh Central Waqf Board on Tuesday for clarification. “The Uttar Pradesh Central Waqf Board has clarified that the notice issued in 2018, claiming the mosque as Waqf property, was canceled on January 18, 2021. There is no reason for the current controversy,” Yaseen stated.
The core of the protests centered on claims by students that “outsiders” were offering prayers at the mosque, sparking concerns about unauthorized access to the campus. A local official confirmed that the college management had reached out to the administration to verify the identity of those entering the campus. Police, on high alert, have been monitoring the situation to prevent further disruptions.
As the standoff continues, the college community is grappling with a growing divide over the mosque’s presence on campus, with both sides demanding swift resolution.