The shocking death of BSc student Arslan Ansari has the echoes of JNU’s Najeeb case and exposes administrative negligence in campus safety
BILASPUR – The mysterious death of Arslan Ansari, a Muslim BSc student from Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, a central university in Bilaspur, has triggered widespread anger and sorrow, drawing chilling parallels to the disappearance of Najeeb Ahmed from Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Arslan, who had gone missing on October 21, was found dead two days later in a pond on the university campus under suspicious circumstances.
The incident has not only shaken the university community but also raised serious questions about the safety and treatment of Muslim students on campus. Student organisations and political leaders have condemned the administration’s failure to act promptly, accusing it of gross negligence and indifference.
Members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) held a candlelight vigil on Friday evening, demanding a judicial probe into the incident and the immediate arrest of those responsible.
NSUI leader Vikas Singh lashed out at the university administration, saying, “How can a student go missing for three days from a central university campus without anyone noticing? The administration spends crores on security, yet students are not safe. Who is accountable for Arslan’s death?”
Congress leader Sudhanshu Mishra echoed similar sentiments, criticising the vice-chancellor’s handling of student issues. “The vice-chancellor behaves like a ruler rather than an academic head. The university should treat students like its own children, but here the administration neither listens to them nor ensures their safety,” he said.
Another Congress leader, Rajendra Sahu, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating campus environment. “Parents send their children to universities to build their future, not to collect their bodies. A student disappears from a so-called high-security campus, and no one notices for three days — this is criminal negligence,” he remarked.
The tragic incident has revived painful memories of Najeeb Ahmed’s case, where the JNU student disappeared in 2016 after reportedly being assaulted by members of a right-wing student group. His body was never found, and the case remains unresolved.
Social media platforms have also been flooded with messages demanding justice for Arslan. Many students and activists are calling it another instance of the institutional neglect and bias faced by Muslim students in Indian universities.
Arslan’s family, devastated by the loss, has appealed for an impartial investigation. They insist that he had no mental health issues and suspect foul play. His father reportedly said, “My son was full of life and had no reason to take such a step. We want justice and the truth to come out.”
As investigations continue, the incident has once again exposed the urgent need for accountability and reform in India’s higher education system — where questions of safety, equality, and justice for Muslim students remain disturbingly unanswered.
