TNN
 
Lucknow, Sep 18: The Aligarh Muslim University executive council on Monday ordered closure of the institution sine die following large scale violence and arson by students in protest against the murder of an engineering student late on Sunday night.

Asking students to vacate their hostels within two days, the council said the incidents of murder, violence and arson would be investigated by a retired Supreme Court judge to dispel charges that the AMU administration was lax.

Trouble broke out on the campus when students went to the house of vice-chancellor P K Abdul Aziz protesting against the murder of BSc 2nd year student Mazhar Naeem of Ghaziabad, and found the vice-chancellor wasn't home.

This angered the students who then broke into his house and set the furniture on fire. They also went to the office
of the proctor Muzaffar Ali Siddiqui and ransacked it before they attacked the recreation building.

"Arson and violence engulfed different pockets of the campus as the news of the murder spread," Jasim Mohammed, an AMU student, told TOI over phone. "The situation turned tense as students gathered for the sehri (meal before the start of roza). However, deployment of Rapid Action Force and PAC personnel helped contain the situation," he said.

According to sources, Naeem apparently headed for his room in Aftab Hostel around 11.15 pm on Sunday after tarawi (special Ramzan) prayers — but, he was found lying unconscious with head injuries near the hostel gate by some inmates, who rushed him to Jawaharlal Medical College and Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Doctors suspect Naeem had been hit by a blunt object. SSP, Aligarh, Raghuvir Lal said police were probing the reasons which could have led to the murder. "We've formed a team of officers to investigate the murder but our immediate focus is on restoring peace on the campus."

A senior AMU official said the Centre would be requested to order a CBI probe into the third incident of murder on the campus, since April. AMU spokesman Rahat Abrar said the motive behind Naeem's killing was not known.