Meerut – Six Muslim students were arrested at IIMT University in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, after participating in a protest demanding the release of a fellow student, Khalid Pradhan, who was detained for allegedly offering namaz on campus, reported the Times of India.
The incident began when a video surfaced showing approximately 50 students performing namaz in an open area of the university on March 13, a day before the Hindu festival of Holi. The video’s circulation led to protests by local Hindu groups, who claimed it was intended to provoke communal tensions. In response, the university administration suspended Pradhan and three security personnel, citing that no permission had been obtained for the gathering.
On March 17, around 400 students staged a peaceful protest at the university’s main gate, demanding Pradhan’s release. Police intervened, stating that the assembly was unlawful due to the lack of prior permission, and efforts to negotiate were unsuccessful. Consequently, six students were arrested for unlawful assembly.
The situation has raised concerns about religious freedom and the handling of such incidents on university campuses.
