Four days ago, the Aligarh Muslim University campus was rocked by its first-ever mass demonstration on a ‘‘women’s issue’’ by 1,500 women hostelers against the death of a fellow resident, allegedly due to the negligence on the part of the authorities.

The students had been demanding the immediate resignation of the Provost and wardens, besides initiation of legal action against the Abdullah Hall authorities. They also wanted 24-hour basic medical services and the presence of a doctor on the Hall premises, about 3 km from the main university campus. Since then, the authorities had acted on their demands, and also a new Provost took charge yesterday.

Saying that the authorities are waiting for the post-mortem result, Proctor Prof Akhlaq Ahmad said, ‘‘The Vice-Chancellor had declared that he would form a probe panel within a week.’’

Meanwhile, there has been a change in the general mood at the campus. ‘‘There is a new-found unity among residents as we are fed up with the authorities’ attitude. Their nonchalance over the death of Yursa Ahmad, the first-year BA (Hindi) student, resulted in a spontaneous protest. However, it is good that we have been able to force them (the authorities) to initiate legal action,’’ said Seema, a third-year Zoology student.

However, some students are apprehensive, too. ‘‘Nothing really changes here. What about the larger question of allowing women out on weekdays? It will all die down as examinations are round the corner,’’ said an Economics post-graduate woman student.

On March 23 following the death of Yursa Ahmad, more than 1,500 women students of the Hall had marched towards the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, almost 4 km away, demanding the Provost’s resignation.

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