Police file FIR a day after 'beef biryani' on AMU lunch menu triggers row

ALIGARH: A day after a notice to serve 'beef biryani' for lunch in the Aligarh Muslim University triggered a row, police on Monday registered an FIR in the matter against three persons, including two students and a chief provost of the varsity, officials said.

The FIR was lodged at the Civil Lines police station against Mohammad Faiazullah and Mujassim Ahmad, both students, and F R Gauhar, provost for the Sir Shah Sulaiman Hall where the notice was put up, they said.

The FIR invokes sections 302 (uttering words etc. with deliberate intent to hurt religious feelings), 270 (public nuisance), and 353 (public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Stating that the Karni Sena has submitted a memorandum in this regard, circle officer Abhay Pandey said, "We have taken the matter seriously and launched a probe."

Karni Sena's Uttar Pradesh unit chief Gyanendra Singh claimed a message had gone viral on social media announcing a 'beef party' in the Suleman Hall involving both teachers and students of Aligarh Muslim University. The act has hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu students in AMU, he claimed, adding that Karni Sena demands strict action against all the accused who should be expelled from the university.

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'Typing error in Sunday lunch menu, says AMU'

The notice, purportedly issued by two ‘authorised’ individuals of the Sulaiman Hall, said, "Sunday's lunch menu has been changed, and beef biryani will be served instead of chicken biryani as per demand."

Following an uproar over the notice, the AMU administration on Sunday clarified that it contained a "typing error" and assured that those responsible had been issued a show-cause notice. Member of AMU’s public relations department, Vibha Sharma, said, "The matter was brought to our attention. We found that the notice was regarding the food menu. However, it contained a clear typing error. The notice was immediately withdrawn as it had no official signatures, raising doubts about its authenticity."

"Our provost has issued a show-cause notice to the two senior students responsible (for issuing the notice). We are taking this issue seriously to ensure strict adherence to university regulations," she said.