Yesterday security forces in Kashmir had gunned down dreaded Hizbul terrorist Mannan Wani. According to reports, in an anti-terrorist operation by security forces, two Hizbul terrorists were gunned down in Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the slain terrorists was identified as Mannan Wani, the former PhD scholar from Aligarh Muslim University who had joined Hizbul Mujahideen.
Wani was a resident of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir. His father was a lecturer and his brother is reportedly a junior engineer in Jammu and Kashmir government.
According to reports, after news of Mannan Wani being gunned down by security forces was spread in media, some students in Aligarh Muslim University started agitations inside the university campus. Inside the university campus, social media messages declaring Mannan as a martyr was being circulated and a group of Kashmiri students announced that they would hold funeral prayers or ‘Namaaz-e-Janaaza’ for Mannan Wani inside the Kennedy hall on campus at 3.30 in the afternoon.
Receiving reports of the proposed funeral prayers, the university administration took swift action. A proctorial team lead by proctor Mohsin Khan reportedly reached the Kennedy Hall before the scheduled time. A large group of about 100-150 Kashmiri students had reportedly already gathered in the hall.
Former student union president Faizul Hasan and some of his associates reportedly tried to reason with the gathered students that holding prayers for a slain terrorist will send a wrong message and will defame AMU. According to reports, while some students agreed some were still adamant on holding the prayers. Faizul Hasan reportedly pleaded with the Kashmiri students that the University should not be pulled into politics and if they wanted to mourn for Wani they should visit his family.
While some students agreed to suspend the prayers, some were reportedly adamant. The proctorial team had reportedly made it clear that no funeral prayers will be allowed for a terrorist. The PR department of the University also reportedly announced that the administration will not allow funeral prayers for a terrorist inside the campus. Upon this, a group of students was agitated and an altercation ensued with the proctorial team. The security guards present at the scene managed to disperse the agitating students away. Later the University had taken cognizance of the matter and reportedly suspended three students. The administration has also issued show cause notices to some of the agitating students.
Mannan Wani, 26, was pursuing a PhD on ‘Structural and Geo-Morphological Study of Lolab Valley, Kashmir’ from AMU. After news of his joining Hizbul Mujahideen, the university had expelled him. The UP police had also raided his room inside the campus and had recovered suspicious materials.
