Internet services suspended in Aligarh, AMU still tense

Internet services were suspended till Saturday in Aligarh after inflammatory messages were posted on social networking sites, even as tension continued to prevail at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus over Mohammed Ali Jinnah's portrait inside its Students' Union Hall.

According to sources here the district administration has suspended the internet services to prevent provocative posts and maintain social harmony in the communally sensitive district.

Security personnel continued to be deployed outside AMU campus as there were clashes between saffron activists and students on Thursday. Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the warring groups.

Saffron outfits have been demanding removal of Jinnah's portrait from the Hall and have warned to agitate if it was not removed.

BJP MP Satish Gautam has written a letter to the AMU vice chancellor seeking removal of the portrait. The AMU administration has said that it could not interfere in the matter as it was the sole discretion of the students' union.