Beef Biryani Row Explained: Police file FIR day after incident at AMU; here's what happened

A notice to serve 'beef biryani' for lunch at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has triggered a row. Soon after the message went viral on social media, the university administration on Sunday clarified that it contained a 'typing error' and assured that those responsible had been issued a show-cause notice. The notice, purportedly issued by two ‘authorised' individuals of the Sulaiman Hall, said, "Sunday's lunch menu has been changed, and beef biryani will be served instead of chicken biryani as per demand." 

Moreover, the police on Monday registered an FIR in the matter against three persons, including two students and a chief provost of the varsity, officials said. The FIR was lodged at the Civil Lines police station against Mohammad Faiazullah and Mujassim Ahmad, both students and F R Gauhar, provost for the Sir Shah Sulaiman Hall where the notice was put up, they said.

The FIR invokes sections 302 (uttering words etc. With deliberate intent to hurt religious feelings), 270 (public nuisance), and 353 (public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Circle officer Abhay Pandey said, "We have taken the matter seriously and launched a probe."

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The act has hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu students in AMU, he claimed, adding that Karni Sena demands strict action against all the accused who should be expelled from the university. Member of AMU's public relations department, Vibha Sharma, said, "The matter was brought to our attention. We found that the notice was regarding the food menu. However, it contained a clear typing error. The notice was immediately withdrawn as it had no official signatures, raising doubts about its authenticity."

(With inputs from PTI)