Tensions flared at Uday Pratap College (UP College) in Varanasi as students staged a protest on Tuesday, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa near a campus shrine in defiance of police efforts to maintain order.
The demonstration was a direct response to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board's contentious claim over the college premises.
Hundreds of students gathered, raising slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and breaking through police barricades. A heavy police presence, led by Additional Police Commissioner (Law and Order) Dr. S. Channappa, was deployed to contain the unrest, but the students remained resolute in their demands.
Protesting students alleged that an increase in religious activities on campus was affecting the academic atmosphere. “The rise in such activities is spoiling the study environment. We cannot allow this to continue,” said one of the agitators.
The situation escalated further when a group of individuals attempted to offer namaz at the campus mosque. Police intervened, detaining one individual, identified as Mukhtar, for allegedly inciting religious gatherings. Authorities clarified that no religious activity would be permitted on campus until ongoing exams were concluded.
Despite efforts by the police to prevent further demonstrations, students managed to breach barricades and continue their protest near the shrine.
The unrest stems from a 2018 notice issued by the Sunni Central Waqf Board, claiming the college land as its property. This notice, which has recently resurfaced, has sparked outrage among students and staff, who see it as an infringement on the institution’s autonomy.
UP College spans over 100 acres and includes a mosque built by Nawab Tonk, along with the tomb of Kachnar Shah, occupying three biswas of land. While the mosque has historically been frequented by four to five daily worshippers, over 500 people reportedly gathered for Friday prayers last week—an unusual surge that coincided with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to the college. During the event, the CM announced plans to upgrade the institution to university status.
The land dispute dates back to 2008, when Wasim Ahmed, a resident of Varanasi, filed a claim with the Waqf Board, alleging that the college administration had encroached on Waqf property. In 2018, the board issued a notice warning that the land would be registered as Waqf property if the college failed to respond.
Founded in 1909 by Maharaja Rajarshi Singh Judeo, Uday Pratap College is an educational hub comprising multiple institutions, including Uday Pratap Inter College, Rani Murar Balika Inter College, Uday Pratap Public School, a management college, and an autonomous college, catering to over 15,000 students.
