Thirteen students from Lucknow University have been instructed by the Executive Magistrate to provide a personal bond of Rs 50,000 along with two sureties of Rs 50,000 each. This directive was issued following reports of unauthorized religious activities at the historic Lal Baradari structure. The students had held prayers outside Lal Baradari when entry to the site was restricted, prompting concerns about maintaining law and order on campus.

Tensions Arise Over Unofficial Religious Activities

The order was based on a challan report from the Hasanganj police station, which indicated that the students’ actions had led to a tense atmosphere on the university grounds. The Executive Magistrate recognized the potential for future disruptions to public peace and, as a result, required all 13 students to submit the specified bonds as a precautionary measure to uphold peace for one year.

Student Reactions to Notices Issued

Responding to the notices, Shubham Kharwar, a student at the university, explained that some Muslim students had offered Namaz outside Lal Baradari due to the locked gates, leading to the issuance of the notices. He mentioned plans for a protest against the closure of the gates of Lal Baradari. Another student, Ahmad Raza, stated that the notice alleged that their prayers and an Iftar gathering had disturbed the peace, although he clarified that while some tensions arose, students were not the instigators of violence.

Claims of Disturbance and Counterprotests

Ahmad Raza commented on the situation, noting that the involvement of both Muslim and Hindu students in the prayers was misconstrued as disturbing public peace. He asserted that there were no objectionable slogans chanted during the prayers. Raza noted that while students might occasionally be accused of violence, their actions did not provoke disturbances. The situation escalated further, as members of Bajrang Dal conducted protests, raising religious slogans such as “Jai Shree Ram” in response to the students’ actions.

Community Response and Calls for Action

Members of Bajrang Dal have demanded stringent measures against the students who allegedly circumvented official restrictions to conduct their prayers at Lal Baradari. The group’s protests highlighting the religious activities around the university have contributed to the ongoing tensions regarding religious expression on campus. The situation remains delicate as the university administration, students, and various community groups navigate issues of religious rights and public order.

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