Activists threaten protest over land encroachment for Jauhar

Tension prevailed here after Hindu Yuva Vahini and Hindu Mahasabha activists threatened protest demanding arrest of former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Azam Khan for allegedly building his Mohammad Ali Jauhar University on encroached land.
The activists had announced their demonstration yesterday, prompting Samajwadi Party workers to assemble at the varsity , even as police and administration officials reached there to control the situation.
Khan, along with his MLA son AbdullahAzam, also reached the university.
Superintendent of Police, Rampur, Vipin Tada deployed force at the university and at Dr B R Ambedkar Park, from where the procession of the activists had to begin.

The police later pacified the activists and a possible confrontation was averted, sources said.
Later, the SP leader and his supporters alleged that the university was being targeted since the installation of the BJP government in the state.

"We are prepared to shed our blood to ensure safety of the university," Khan's supporters claimed.
Meanwhile, a delegation, led by the chairman of the industries association here, Akash Saxena, handed over a memorandum to the chief minister alleging the university occupied some land which belonged to custodian of India.
In May, a probe was ordered against Khan on a complaint alleging that he had encroached upon an enemy property for setting up Jauhar university.

It was alleged that Khan had encroached on 60 'bighas' of land, which was enemy property in 2006, while setting up the university.