Students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), who had been peacefully protesting a sudden 36% fee hike, were allegedly subjected to a brutal assault by Uttar Pradesh police on Friday, after the police were permitted to enter the campus.
The students had been staging a protest for six consecutive days, blocking the Baab-e-Syed Gate, the main entrance to the university, demanding a complete rollback of the fee hike, which they called “unfair,” especially for students from poor and marginalised backgrounds.
The students also demanded the resignation of professors who are proctorial team members accused of misconduct.
According to students, the police entered the campus during Friday prayers, dragged away students offering prayers on the sidewalk, and even used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
One female student alleged that the chaos was orchestrated by the proctorial team itself. She claimed she had been sent by the proctor to halt the prayers, but instead, police were called in, even after knowing that two female students had already entered the prayer area.
“One of the girls was even pushed in the chest during the altercation,” she alleged.
“When we met the Vice Chancellor, she assured us that the matter would be looked into. We told her, ‘Ma’am, while you’re addressing it, we will continue to protest peacefully,” she said, asking, “But why are they doing this today? Why are they misbehaving so much?”
“They know very well that the majority of students here come from economically weak backgrounds. How can they expect everyone to suddenly afford a one-time hike of 36%?” a student questioned.
By evening, the protest gathered greater strength as the Doctors’ Residence Association (RDA) of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), AMU, joined in solidarity by holding a “White Coat March.”
The protests have also received nationwide solidarity from student unions, including those from Delhi University (DUSU) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU).
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) President Nitish Kumar and the Vice President also joined the demonstration, denouncing the fee hike as an “undemocratic move.”
DUSU President Ronak Khatri issued a video message warning AMU’s Vice Chancellor: “You have seven days to resolve the issue. If no action is taken, we will come and protest.”
The situation at AMU remains tense as students vow to continue their protest until their demands are met.
Meanwhile, AMU Vice Chancellor Naima Khatoon, on Friday, while admitting that “the administration is aware that such a change in financial obligation can cause anxiety,” claimed that a “legitimate student concern has been systematically distorted and exploited by vested interests.”
The Vice Chancellor assured the students that a separate committee would investigate allegations of misconduct by members of the proctorial staff during the events of 4 August 2025 at Baab-e-Syed Gate.
Following a sudden 36% fee hike at Aligarh Muslim University, which included increased continuation and exam registration charges across undergraduate, postgraduate, and other academic programmes, students launched protests by blocking the Baab-e-Syed Gate, the main entrance to the campus.
A press release issued by the PRO, AMU, stated that the Academic Council of Aligarh Muslim University, in its meeting held on 4 June 2025, approved a moderate revision in the fee structure for continuing students, with an average increase of 15 to 20 percent.
The university justified the hike by stating that the decision was taken after a comprehensive review of essential services and resources aimed at enhancing student welfare, with the revised fees covering areas such as infrastructure development, health services, hall amenities, Sir Syed Day functions, maintenance of common rooms, and resident charges.
It further noted that, in view of the rising cost of living in recent years, the revision had become necessary to “sustain and upgrade the services.”
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