Emotionally exhausting’: Families of Al-Falah University students grapple with fear, uncertainty amid terror probe

Emotionally exhausting’: Families of Al-Falah University students grapple with fear, uncertainty amid terror probe

FARIDABAD / DELHI — As Al-Falah University in Faridabad finds itself in the eye of a storm, students and their families are living through what many describe as an “emotionally exhausting” ordeal. The probe into alleged terror links has rippled through the campus, leaving kin of students unsure about what comes next.

A Campus Under Shadow

The trouble began after investigators tied a "white-collar" terror module to Al-Falah Medical College. Among those named are faculty members accused of links to the November 10 Red Fort blast in Delhi.  The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has since demanded exhaustive records — from faculty recruitment and hostel registers to financial transactions — going back to 2019.

Three doctors associated with the university — including Dr. Umar Un Nabi, allegedly driving the vehicle used in the blast — are under scrutiny.  For many parents, this raises critical questions: Can this institution still guarantee a safe and stable environment for students?

Families Torn Between Fear and Education

According to interviews with parents traveling from cities like Agra, Lucknow, and Haldwani, the tension is real and pervasive. Hindustan Times Manoj Kumar, who accompanied his daughter to Faridabad, says he panicked when the news broke. “I told her to come home immediately … even now, I don’t know if keeping her there is safe. But taking her out could set her back a year,” he said. 

For Sushil Mehta of Lucknow, the crisis has eroded his trust. “He worked so hard to get here,” Mehta said of his son. “But now, we fear for his safety. All we want is openness — for the college to rebuild trust.”

Student Life in Limbo

On campus, the atmosphere has shifted dramatically. Students report that routine classes have resumed, but the normal college life they once knew feels distant, almost superficial. Hindustan Times+1 A first-year student from Uttarakhand described the constant calls from worried parents: “My parents kept calling after watching the news. I had to reassure them — even when I wasn’t sure myself. It’s exhausting.” 

There have been efforts to ease the tension: counseling sessions arranged by the university leadership aimed to calm fears, urging students not to give in to rumors and to avoid interacting with unknown outsiders. Hindustan Times Still, surveillance on campus has tightened. Students say they are under constant watch by guards and officers, weakening any sense of normalcy. “There’s no normal college life left,” said one student. 

Meanwhile, some students are choosing to leave — but not everyone can. With exams approaching, many feel compelled to stay, even as doubts swirl.

Institutional Crisis Beyond Terror

The terror probe isn’t the only blow for Al-Falah. Regulators are now questioning its academic credibility. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has issued a show-cause notice, accusing the university of falsely displaying accreditation status. 

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has registered FIRs alleging cheating and forgery tied to accreditation claims. 

Financial scrutiny has intensified as well. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a forensic audit, probing a money trail it claims involves ₹415 crore, which it labels “proceeds of crime.” 

What Comes Next — But No Clear Answers

Families say they are getting no clarity. “We are anxious, unsure whether to pull our children out or let them continue,” said one parent.  Many feel trapped: withdrawing could derail their child’s education, but staying feels risky.

From the students’ perspective, the lack of transparent communication has eroded trust. The very institution they joined to build a future now seems fraught with existential risk.

Broader Concerns and Repercussions

Beyond the immediate personal impact, this investigation raises broader systemic questions. How did the university allegedly employ faculty with suspected terror affiliations?

 Were roles misused to facilitate recruitment or fund extremist activities? 

Regulators are now looking at whether campus infrastructure — including hostels — was exploited, with claims that non-students may have had access. 

For many parents and students, the damage may already be done. Graduating from a university now tainted by a terror scandal could carry a stigma. And even if the probe clears individuals, rebuilding confidence may take far longer than any investigation.

Conclusion

Al-Falah University, once a quietly ambitious institution, now finds itself at a crossroads. Its students and their families are caught in a painful balancing act — protect education or protect their peace of mind. In the absence of clear answers, they wait, emotionally drained, and deeply uncertain about what the future holds.