Aligarh Muslim University teacher shot dead in campus, investigation underway

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• AMU teacher Rao Danish Ali was fatally shot near campus library on Sunday night
• Police are searching for two unidentified assailants after the shooting
• Incident questions law and order despite claims of better security in UP

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A teacher of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was fatally shot on campus on Sunday night, triggering an investigation by Uttar Pradesh Police into what officials described as an attack by unidentified assailants.

Senior Superintendent of Police Neeraj Jadon told ANI that two unknown men opened fire on the victim and fled. “The investigation in the case is underway, and the search for the assailants has begun,” he said, adding that police teams reached the spot soon after receiving information.

The deceased has been identified as Rao Danish Ali, a faculty member at the university’s ABK School. He was rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College following the shooting but later succumbed to his injuries.

Confirming the incident, AMU Proctor Professor Mohd. Wasim Ali said the shooting took place near the campus library. “Around 9 pm, we received information that there had been a shooting near the library and that a man had been injured and was being taken for medical treatment...We learned that the man who had been shot has been identified as Rao Danish Ali, and he was a teacher at the ABK School of the university. He was shot in the head... He died there at the medical college...,” he told the media.

He also noted that the exact number of bullets fired was not immediately clear, with differing accounts suggesting three or five shots.

The incident comes amid recent assertions by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about improved law and order in the state. Speaking in the state Assembly, the Chief Minister said, “An atmosphere of security is essential for every person. Today, every person can say that investment is coming to UP because of the improved security environment.”

Taking aim at the Samajwadi Party, he remarked, “I would like to say to the Samajwadi Party and the opposition, 'tu idhar udhar ki baatein mat kar, yah toh bata ki yeh kaafila kyu loota'... The Samajwadi Party became scattered and disorganised. It created an identity crisis for the entire state. Who was responsible for the dance of anarchy that was unleashed?”

Emphasising his government’s stance, Adityanath further said, “If anyone wants to know how rioters are dealt with, they should ask the maulana from Bareilly. There is neither a curfew nor any riot now. Everything is fine in Uttar Pradesh. This is the new UP.”