Delhi Blast: Mahant calls Al-Falah University a terrorist den and urges it be blown up

The Delhi blasts, in which the alleged accused have been linked to Al-Falah University, prompted Yati Narsinghanand Giri, the head priest (Mahant) of the Dasna Devi Temple in Ghaziabad, known for his vituperation towards Muslims and Islam, to call for Al-Falah University, AMU, Jamia Millia, and Darul Uloom Deoband to be blown up by the military after describing them as dens of terrorists.

He also alleged that the university mourned the terrorists killed in the blasts and urged Hindus to fight for their survival, though the university made it clear that it had nothing to do with the blast and is ready to cooperate with the probe.

In a video message, Yati Narsinghanand Giri also alleged that the detained doctors hailed from Al-Falah University in Faridabad and alleged that the institution had held mourning for terrorists killed in the blasts, and his remarks blamed what he characterised as a failure by Hindus to stand by those who confront such threats.

Giri furthermore demanded that the state deploy military force to demolish what he termed “terror dens”, naming Al-Falah University, Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Darul Uloom Deoband, and he called on the public to pressure political leaders to use cannons and army units for that purpose.

Investigating agencies have detained three doctors who have been named in reports as Muzamil Ahmad Ganaie, Adeel and Dr Shaheen Saeed, and while many outlets connected the arrests to Al-Falah University, the agencies have continued to probe the exact links and the scope of the alleged terror module.

Al-Falah University, which is based in the neighbouring region where some of the detained staff were employed, responded by denying institutional involvement and by stressing that any relationship with the detained individuals was limited to their professional roles, and the university also expressed its willingness to cooperate with the inquiry while condemning attempts to malign its reputation.

The vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Bhupinder Kaur Anand, issued a statement that framed the unfolding coverage as a damaging media trial and sought to distance the institution from the allegations, and the university warned against unverified reports that it said were harming students and staff.