On 24th February (Tuesday), the management of Lucknow University has sent notices and slapped ₹50,000 fine each on 13 students who performed namaz and demonstrated outside the Lal Baradari mosque inside the campus. These students created a ruckus and shouted slogans after the structure was sealed and even broke through police barricades.
According to reports, the Lucknow Executive Magistrate issued this notice following a report from the Hasanganj police which stated that the students interrupted ongoing construction work on campus and jeopardised the order by engaging in religious activities in a public area. The administration asserted that such actions have fostered tension among students, thereby heightening the risk of a major incident in the future.
Therefore, it has directed all 13 students involved to present a bond of ₹50,000 each and two sureties as a guarantee for maintaining peace and order for a period of one year. The students who have been notified included Prince Prakash, Ahmed Raza, Shubham Kharwar, Tauqeer Ghazi, Navneet Yadav, Prem Prakash Yadav, Shivaji Yadav, Prasanna Shukla, Prince Kumar, Akshay Kumar Verma, Abhishek Srivastava, Kanchi Singh and Mohammad Ayaz Hasan.
Notably, Muslim students performed namaz outside the entrance of Lal Baradari following its sealing on 22nd February. Some Hindu students established a human chain, forming a security perimeter around them, escalating the controversy. The ABVP expressed opposition to the namaz, arguing that they should also be permitted to recite the Sunderkand. Afterwards, Muslim students staged protests and chanted slogans demanding the opening of the Lal Baradari gates.
On the other hand, Hindu students also staged a protest at the university. They raised “Jai Shri Ram” slogans and expressed that there is a small temple within the Lal Baradari where they have been reciting the Sunderkand, but the administration obstructed their efforts. They further questioned who authorised Muslim students to conduct namaz after causing a disturbance on the campus?
Hindu students also gathered in protest outside the office of the proctor who was in favour of namaz. Meanwhile, members of Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, All India Students Association (AISA), and National Students Union of India (NSUI) also participated in the protest on 23r February. Some NSUI students raised objections to the construction work, claiming it was on an ASI-protected site and they even tried to break the lock with a stone.
Tensions further intensified as students gathered outside the structure on Tuesday. Some individuals reportedly carried Ganga water and requested the purification of the area. However, altercations transpired between the students and the police after which a few of them were arrested.
The university administration has indicated that the Lal Baradari building is quite old and in a fragile state, and has been sealed off due to security concerns. The administration emphasised that this action was essential for the building’s restoration and maintenance. Additionally, the administration had informed the police beforehand about possible protests.
