The hallowed halls of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) were shattered on December 24, 2025, when assistant professor Rao Danish Ali was shot dead in broad daylight—on campus, near his workplace. What initially appeared as a random act of violence has now been revealed as a cold, calculated act of revenge, rooted in a years-old murder case. The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested the alleged mastermind, 32-year-old Salman Quereshi, and say the killing was driven by a belief that Professor Ali had betrayed their circle by acting as a police informer in a 2018 homicide.
Table of Contents
- The Crime Scene: A Brutal Murder on Campus
- The Motive: Revenge for a 2018 Murder Case
- Who Is Rao Danish Ali? The Victim
- The Accused: Salman Quereshi and the Conspiracy
- How the Police Cracked the Case
- Security Concerns at AMU After Campus Killing
- Broader Implications of Informer-Driven Violence
- Conclusion: A Tragic Reminder of Legacy Violence
- Sources
The Crime Scene: A Brutal Murder on Campus
On the evening of December 24, 2025, Rao Danish Ali, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, was walking near the Faculty of Social Sciences at AMU when two assailants on a motorcycle pulled up and opened fire. Ali was hit multiple times and died on the spot. The brazen nature of the attack—on one of India’s most prestigious educational campuses—sent shockwaves across the academic and law enforcement communities .
What made the crime even more alarming was its location. AMU, despite past tensions, is generally considered a secure academic zone. A murder in such a setting raised immediate questions about campus safety and the reach of external criminal networks.
The Motive: Revenge for a 2018 Murder Case
According to UP Police investigators, the **AMU teacher murder** was not random but deeply personal. Salman Quereshi, the arrested suspect, allegedly believed that Rao Danish Ali had played a role in the 2018 murder case involving one of Quereshi’s associates.
Specifically, police claim Quereshi suspected Ali of being a police informer who provided intelligence that led to arrests in that earlier case. Though there’s no public evidence confirming Ali’s involvement as an informant, the perception alone was enough to mark him for death in the eyes of the accused .
Who Is Rao Danish Ali? The Victim
Rao Danish Ali, 42, was a respected academic known for his work on social inequality and youth marginalization. Colleagues described him as soft-spoken, dedicated, and deeply committed to his students. He had no known criminal record or history of violence.
His family and the AMU community have vehemently denied any suggestion that he was involved in police intelligence work. “He was a scholar, not a spy,” said a senior faculty member who requested anonymity . The murder has left a void in both academic and personal circles, with students organizing memorials across campus.
The Accused: Salman Quereshi and the Conspiracy
Police say the killing was a coordinated effort. While Salman Quereshi has been arrested as the prime conspirator, two other associates—Fahad and Yasir—are also named in the case. The actual shooters are believed to be Fahad and an unidentified fourth individual. According to the charge sheet, Quereshi and a man named Zubair (still at large) allegedly planned the assassination for weeks, conducting surveillance on Ali’s daily routine .
Quereshi, a resident of Aligarh’s Khwaja Nagar, has a prior criminal record linked to extortion and illegal arms possession, though not murder. His alleged motive appears rooted in a toxic mix of paranoia, loyalty to criminal associates, and a warped sense of retribution.
How the Police Cracked the Case
The breakthrough came through a combination of digital and traditional policing:
- CCTV footage: Cameras near the Faculty of Social Sciences captured the motorcycle and partial images of the riders.
- Phone records: Call data revealed communication between Quereshi, Fahad, and Zubair in the days leading up to the murder.
- Informant tip: A local source led police to Quereshi’s hideout in a rented apartment in Sarsaul.
Within 10 days of the murder, Quereshi was in custody. Police are now pursuing Fahad and Zubair, with Interpol alerts under consideration if they flee abroad.
Security Concerns at AMU After Campus Killing
The murder has triggered a major security overhaul at AMU. The university has:
- Increased the number of security personnel at all entry and exit points.
- Installed additional CCTV cameras, especially near faculty blocks.
- Launched a 24/7 emergency helpline for staff and students.
- Requested deployment of UP Special Task Force (STF) personnel on campus .
Students and faculty have demanded a judicial inquiry into how such a targeted hit could occur within university premises—a concern shared by education advocates nationwide. For more on campus safety in India, see our report on [INTERNAL_LINK:university-security-protocols-india].
Broader Implications of Informer-Driven Violence
This case highlights a dangerous trend in parts of North India: the violent targeting of individuals suspected—often wrongly—of being police informants. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), so-called “revenge killings” linked to past cases have risen by 18% in Uttar Pradesh since 2020 .
Such attacks not only claim innocent lives but also create a climate of fear that discourages cooperation with law enforcement—a paradox that ultimately undermines justice itself.
Conclusion: A Tragic Reminder of Legacy Violence
The **AMU teacher murder** is more than a crime story—it’s a tragic intersection of academia, vengeance, and urban criminality. Rao Danish Ali’s death underscores how past violence can cast long, deadly shadows into the present. As the legal process unfolds, his case must serve as a catalyst for stronger campus protections and a more nuanced understanding of how suspicion, once weaponized, can destroy lives far beyond the original conflict.
Sources
- Times of India. (2026, January 1). UP Police arrest 32-yr-old man for AMU teacher’s murder on campus, say it was for revenge. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/up-police-arrest-32yo-man-for-amu-teachers-murder-on-campus-say-it-was-for-revenge/articleshow/126290684.cms
- The Hindu. (2026, January 2). AMU mourns slain professor Rao Danish Ali.
- Aligarh Muslim University Administration. (2026). Press Release: Enhanced Security Measures.
- National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). (2025). Crime in India 2024 Report. Retrieved from https://ncrb.gov.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. (2023). Guidelines for Campus Security in Central Universities.