As ‘katta culture’ makes a return, AMU threatens to cancel student polls

Shah, who recently wrote a open letter to students issuing warning about prevalence of ‘katta’ culture on the campus, admitted the announcement of polls could be the reason behind the two firing incidents last week — one at Zakaria Market and another outside the Proctor’s office.

“I accept that such firing incidents have taken place after my decision to hold students’ union polls. Some politicians are cultivating their muscle power, but I will withdraw my decision and polls will not be held under present circumstances,” Shah told The Sunday Express.

The AMU administration said the police will get a free hand to take action against the erring students and punish them by cancelling their passports and other official documents.

“We are identifying the students and strict action will be taken against them. There will be no mercy and they will be disqualified. We do not want the campus life to be disturbed,” the V-C said.

Keeping with its tough stand, the university has already forwarded the names of suspected students to the local police. “We have lodged an FIR against four students and several outsiders. Random checking is also going on in the hostels. We have requested the local administration to assist us in weeding out such elements,” Jamshed Siddiqui, Proctor, AMU told The Sunday Express.

Even the shops and eating joints near the campus have been asked to down their shutters by 10 pm. On Friday, local police and proctorial team went around Shamshad market, forcibly closing the shops. “These shops are used by the outsiders who sit there and foment trouble,” Siddiqui claimed.