Student protests continue at AMU for fourth day; Opposition MPs demand probe into police action

aligarh (up): protests at the aligarh muslim university (amu) entered the fourth day on monday, with students continuing to boycott classes in large numbers, a senior faculty member said.on sunday, protestors gathered at the bab-e-syed gate to continue their indefinite dharna. their demands include a rollback of a steep fee hike, the conduct of students' union elections after an eight-year gap, and the removal of senior university officials allegedly responsible for the crisis.several opposition mps have written to amu vice-chancellor prof. naima khatoon expressing concern over a police and university crackdown on friday, when protestors were offering collective friday prayers at the dharna site.congress mp from saharanpur imran masood urged the vice-chancellor to order a probe into alleged excesses, including reported police action inside the campus. he demanded an immediate fee rollback and said he would raise the matter in parliament.samajwadi party mp ziaur rehman barq and aimim mp asaduddin owaisi also sought a probe. senior congress leader salman khurshid said the steep hike in fees “negates the very idea of providing affordable education to marginalised sections” and that blocking peaceful protests amounted to “denial of democratic rights of students.”the all india amu old boys' association, in an emergency meeting, expressed “grave concern” over alleged mishandling by senior officials, which it said led to the crackdown.amu sources said some senior officials and executive council members have held talks with students in an effort to resolve the impasse.