AMU campus killing: Teacher killed over suspicion of being 2018 murder informer; police say it was 'revenge', accused held

AGRA: Days after a 45-year-old teacher, Rao Danish Ali, was shot dead on Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus while on an evening walk, UP Police on Thursday arrested a 32-year-old man from Aligarh for his alleged involvement in the case. Based on his questioning, police said the Dec 24 murder was carried out in "revenge" as the arrested accused, Salman Quereshi, suspected the teacher of being an informer in a 2018 incident.

About seven years ago, a man named Azmat was murdered in which associates of Salman and two shooters — Fahad and Yasir — were jailed. After that, Salman, Fahad and Yasir and their other brother Zubair (prime accused in Dec 24, 2025, case), hatched a plan to eliminate Ali. Salman lives in the same locality as the murdered teacher and "knew him", police added.




SSP (Aligarh) Neeraj Jadaun said, "On Dec 23, Salman called his associates. Fahad and Yasir (both brothers and originally from Nausa in Aligarh), presently residing in Delhi, arrived in Aligarh with a pistol and spent the night at Salman's place. The next day, they parked a scooter at a pre-designated area, and Salman dropped Fahad and Yasir near Medical Road in his car to carry out the murder."

Thereafter, the two shooters killed Ali near the canteen inside AMU and fled on the scooter, the SSP said, adding that they abandoned the scooter at a secluded stretch and all three fled to Delhi to evade arrest.

"Salman's associate Zubair -- with a substantial criminal past -- is under the lens too," he said.

Teacher at ABK School on the AMU campus, Ali was walking with a group of friends near the Maulana Azad Library canteen when the attackers intercepted him and shot at. He later died during treatment.

An FIR was subsequently registered at Aligarh's Civil Lines on the complaint of the teacher's brother, Dr Rao Faraz, under BNS sections 103 (1) (murder) and 109 (1) (attempt to murder).

Ali is survived by wife, two children and parents, who also served in the AMU and are now retired.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy New Year wishes, messages, and quotes !