Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101257750400.htm

New Delhi

AMU security plan opposed by alumni

New Delhi: A proposed tough security apparatus at the Aligarh Muslim University has triggered a row with the minority institution’s alumni claiming that the initiative “to be monitored by the Intelligence Bureau” will “terrorise students and lower their morale”.

The AMU Action Committee, which met here on Saturday, demanded immediate withdrawal of the measure by the varsity administration.

The AMU recently invited tenders for 433 trained security personnel, including 37 gunmen, besides CCTV surveillance system, a central monitoring station and other hi-tech equipment, comprising walkie-talkie sets and metal detectors.

“The university is going to install a security arrangement in the campus which will be supervised by the IB. This move will bring down the morale of the students. It will terrorise the students and they will not able to express their mind freely,” Z K Faizan, convenor of the AMU Action Committee, said.

“Why is the university administration setting up a security system which will be under the direct supervision of the IB? ,” he said.