The English professor is accused of sending inappropriate messages to girl students and of engaging in ‘love jihad’. Principal and police call for a fair probe before any action is taken
NEW DELHI/ALIGARH— A serious incident unfolded at Shri Varshney College in Aligarh, where a Muslim professor faced a near-mob lynching inside the college campus on Friday after he was accused of sending objectionable messages to students. The event triggered heated protests led by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers and some students demanding the immediate suspension of the professor.
Eyewitnesses report that the mob became aggressive, surrounding and physically attacking the English professor, who was later rescued by police after a tense stand-off. The professor, whose identity is being withheld for safety, teaches English at the college.
According to several ABVP leaders, including Baldev Chaudhary, the Muslim professor was involved in ‘love jihad’ — an unproven and communal allegation often used to target Muslims accused of wooing Hindu girls for conversion purposes. Protesters also claimed the professor sent inappropriate messages on mobile phones to students. The academic strongly denies the charges.
The demonstration saw active participation not only from male ABVP activists but also from several girls, reportedly school students, who chanted slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Phool Nahi Chingari Hain, Hum Bharat Ki Nari Hain’. These slogans added a communal tone to the protest, further intensifying tensions on the campus.
Prof Brijesh Kumar, Principal of Shri Varshney College, issued a statement on the incident, highlighting serious procedural concerns. “When I arrived at the college, I saw students protesting, demanding the forcible suspension of a professor without presenting any clear complaints or evidence,” he said. He stressed that the issue reportedly dates back six months, but no formal complaint had been lodged with the college authorities until the day of the protest.
“The protesters did not specify the allegations initially and only named the professor while demanding his suspension,” the principal said. He also questioned why the matter, if so serious, was not reported earlier. “If the student is from our college, the administration will investigate. But if not, it becomes a police matter,” he added.
Prof Kumar expressed disapproval over calls for immediate suspension based solely on the protest and allegations. “Suspension is a serious step that can only be taken once a proper investigation is completed and guilt is established. It would be unjust to suspend someone without evidence,” he said.
The police, too, have taken cognizance of the complaint. SP City Mrigank Shekhar Pathak confirmed that the complaint was filed by an ex-student of Shri Varshney College at Gandhi Park Police Station. “It alleges that the professor sent objectionable messages and videos to students. We are investigating the matter from all angles,” said the SP.
The police have seized the professor’s mobile phone and laptop for examination. “An investigation team has also been formed by the college,” Pathak added. CCTV footage of the attack on the professor is being reviewed as part of the inquiry. He assured that appropriate legal action would be taken once the facts are established.
Muslim community leaders and students at the college have expressed deep concern and anguish over the incident. They fear that the professor has been targeted not on the basis of facts but due to communal bias. A Muslim student who wished to remain anonymous said, “This is an attempt to intimidate Muslim teachers and students through false allegations. Such protests using slogans dividing Hindu and Muslim communities harm the fabric of our society.”
Another community member remarked, “The professor is a respected academic and a dedicated teacher. These accusations seem like a witch hunt to scare Muslim educators and students. It is disturbing to see political outfits stirring trouble over unproven claims.”
Several voices have criticised the ABVP for politicising the issue by immediately branding it as ‘love jihad’, a term widely discredited but often used to communalise student and teacher relations. Human rights activists argue that this not only unfairly targets Muslim individuals but also creates an unsafe environment for Muslims in educational institutions.
Dr Imran Khan, a prominent human rights activist, said, “The quick leap to communal labels without evidence is dangerous. The university should ensure justice for all, not succumb to political pressures. The rule of law and fairness must guide the process, not hatred or communal slogans.”
The incident exposes the growing tensions in the country’s educational institutions, where political groups sometimes exploit communal divisions to further their agenda. It also highlights the vulnerability of minority teachers who risk harassment and violence based on unverified allegations.
Principal Brijesh Kumar has appealed to students and staff to maintain peace and allow investigations to be completed. “We cannot let protests turn into lynch mobs. Everyone deserves a fair hearing. Justice should be based on evidence, not on slogans or threats,” he said.
The college administration has assured full cooperation with police investigations and pledged to take necessary action against anyone found guilty of wrongdoing, while protecting the rights of the accused.
The incident at Shri Varshney College is not isolated but reflects a wider pattern of communal tensions increasingly visible on campuses across the country. In recent years, several Muslim teachers have faced harassment, accusations of ‘love jihad’, and threats, often instigated by right-wing student organisations such as ABVP.
Love jihad, though never legally defined or proven in courts, remains a common communal narrative used to target Muslim men accused of courting Hindu women. Such allegations have often led to harassment, violence, and wrongful suspensions without proper investigations.
Educational experts warn that this trend threatens academic freedom and peace on campuses, turning places of learning into battlegrounds of religious identity politics.
While many students condemn the attack on the professor, some supporting ABVP argue that the protest was necessary. A student identified as Ramesh Gupta, active in ABVP, said, “Our protest was peaceful but firm. The professor’s behaviour is unacceptable if proven. We want the college to act strictly to protect students, especially girls.”
However, several students have voiced fears that the incident will create an unsafe environment for minority teachers. “We study here for knowledge, not to be caught in communal conflicts,” said Fatima, a Muslim undergraduate student.
Legal experts stress the importance of due process. Advocate Saif Ali said, “In the absence of formal complaints and evidence, no suspension or punitive action should be taken. The police and the college must carry out thorough investigations. Taking action based on protests alone violates the rights of the accused.”
As the police investigation continues, it remains essential that justice be served fairly and without prejudice. The incident at Shri Varshney College underscores the urgent need to protect minority teachers and students from communal harassment, to uphold their dignity, and to prevent campuses from becoming arenas for political and religious conflicts.
Only through calm, reasoned inquiry and respect for human rights can peace and harmony be restored in educational institutions across the country.
