AMU Professor Shot Five Times, Four Bullets Removed from Head: Postmortem Reveals Chilling Details

Aligarh: The brutal murder of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) professor Rao Danish Ali has sent shockwaves across the university campus and the city, with the postmortem report revealing horrifying details of the crime. The computer teacher at AMU’s ABK Boys School was shot five times, four of the bullets piercing his skull and one striking his arm, confirming the attackers’ clear intent to kill.

Rao Danish Ali was scheduled to depart for Umrah in Saudi Arabia on the very day of the incident. His tickets were booked and preparations were underway when, just two days earlier, he was gunned down in cold blood inside the AMU campus.

Postmortem Findings Deepen Mystery

According to the postmortem report, four bullets were recovered from the professor’s head, causing extensive damage to the brain, while another bullet struck near his arm. Doctors at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College stated that excessive blood loss due to multiple gunshot wounds led to his death. Bullet injury marks were also found near the elbow, further indicating close-range firing.

City SP Mrigank Shekhar Pathak confirmed that a case has been registered against unknown assailants. “Four police teams have been formed. CCTV footage is being examined and we are confident of cracking the case soon,” he said.

CCTV Footage Captures Suspects

Investigators have obtained crucial CCTV footage showing two young boys riding a scooter inside the AMU campus. The suspects were captured on cameras installed near the Maulana Azad Library and Suleman Hall. According to police records, the shooting occurred at around 8:45 pm, and the attackers were seen exiting the campus via Bab-e-Syed Gate at 9:02 pm.

So far, eight youths have been detained for questioning. Police believe the attackers may be connected to the university, as no footage shows the scooter entering the campus from outside. The AMU campus spans nearly 1,150 acres, making external intrusion without detection unlikely.

Two Angles Under Investigation

Police are probing the murder from two major angles. The first suggests that the shooters were not professional criminals but possibly school students, as Danish reportedly had a dispute with two boys about a month ago. The second angle revolves around his alleged contact with a young woman, raising the possibility of a personal conspiracy. Investigators suspect the actual mastermind may be someone else, with the shooters acting merely as pawns.

Authorities are also investigating how the accused obtained the firearm used in the crime.

Chilling Execution Raises Questions

Police officials believe the attackers wanted the professor to recognize them before killing him. Witnesses reported that one assailant confronted Danish, saying, “Now you recognize who I am, don’t you?” before opening fire. Even after Danish collapsed, the attackers continued shooting and fired into the air to spread fear, making it clear they intended to leave no chance of survival.

Five empty cartridges were recovered from the crime scene.

Focus on Digital Evidence

The investigation is heavily focused on digital evidence. Mobile tower location data from the area at the time of the murder is being analyzed to identify active phones. Call detail records from the victim’s phone are also being scrutinized, with suspicious numbers under surveillance.

At the time of the attack, Danish’s friends Imran and Golu were walking a short distance ahead of him. Imran stated that they heard gunshots and turned to see two boys fleeing on a scooter while Danish lay on the ground. Golu added that one attacker even threatened them at gunpoint, forcing them to retreat before escaping.

Incident Timeline

The murder took place on December 24 at around 8:45 pm. After dinner, Danish was strolling with friends near the Maulana Azad Library canteen when the masked assailants arrived on a scooter near a tubewell and opened fire. He was rushed to JN Medical College, where doctors declared him dead.

Senior Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar Jadaun said the crime appears to be closely linked to AMU. “It is unlikely that outsiders could enter the campus and commit such a crime so easily. Our investigation is progressing rapidly, and the accused will be arrested soon,” he said.

The incident has raised serious concerns about security within the AMU campus and left students and faculty shaken, as they await justice for a professor whose life was cut short in a calculated and merciless attack.