AMU scholar Manan Wani’s gun-wielding picture goes viral, triggers debate on social media

Srinagar: The viral photograph of an Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) scholar wielding an assault rifle has shocked his friends with one of them saying that he “saw an IAS officer in him”.
Manan Bashir Wani, who was pursuing doctorate in earth science-Geology at the varsity, is believed to have joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. A resident of Tekipora village of Lolab in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said Wani’s family on Sunday came to the police station Sogam after his photograph wielding a gun appeared on the social networking websites.
“We are verifying its credentials,” said a police official from Sogam police station.
Muneer Ahmad Khan, additional director general of police, said that there are contradictory reports about Wani. “Nothing can be said. This thing is under verification,” he said.
His decision, however, has shocked his friends.
“I was calculating MANAN BASHIR WANI among new generation IAS officers but his fate was written to join the Mujahideen ranks,” wrote Khan Aatif on the Facebook.
It generated a spontaneous reaction from another Facebook user Einaam Khan, who wrote: “What kind of decision it is. I am numb”.
Aatif’s post saw a sharp reaction from another user, who wrote: “What’s right for u can be wrong for others. Left to these ignited people they better know what’s right & what’s wrong. You dear better take care of your wisdom”.
Jawaid Nasir, who is in the friend list of Wani, posted a heart-wrenching tale about his joining militant ranks.
According to Nasir’s post, Wani before a month had posted about the alleged “harassment” faced at the hands of the government forces.
“This guy ,Manan, was my Facebook friend…A month or so, before, he wrote a story on fb [Facebook] that, while he was travelling to his home in a sumo [taxi], he was dragged down at five places, humiliated, leered and jeered by Naka parties: just for his looks and wear-up.”
The incident, he said, had traumatized Wani and he had later shared the experience on his Faecook wall. “…this is the slavery of worst kind, i loath this,” Wani had written, according to Nasir.
Meanwhile Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has reportedly suspended a Kashmiri scholar who has reportedly joined militant ranks. Manan Wani, who was pursuing doctorate in earth science-Geology, has been suspended from the college after a video of him with weapon went viral on social media, reported a news agency. SSP Rajesh Pandey is reported to have said ‘there are reports of him joining Hizbul Mujahideen.” “We can’t reveal anything before verification,” he was quoted as saying.
However Militant outfit Hizbul Mujhadeen has welcomed the Aligarh Muslim University Phd scholar for joining the organization and has described the development as a good omen for the on-going Kashmir Freedom Struggle.
In a statement issued to local news gathering agency CNS, the organization Chief Syed Salahuddin while addressing a high level Command Council meeting said that the entry of Abdul Manan Wani of Tekipora Lolab exposes the Indian propaganda that youth of Kashmir are joining militant ranks due to unemployment and economic distress.
“From years on educated and qualified youth of Kashmir have been joining Hizbul Mujhdeen to take this ongoing Freedom Movement to logical conclusion. This spirit of youth is laudable,” Salahuddin said. During the meeting rich tributes were paid to slain civilians and militants.