A wake up call for varsity

DESPITE RUCKUS on the campus several times, the Allahabad University administration has taken no steps to revamp the security. The recent desecration of Dr BR Ambedkar?s statue on the Law Faculty campus is ample proof that the law and order situation in the varsity needs immediate attention.

DESPITE RUCKUS on the campus several times, the Allahabad University administration has taken no steps to revamp the security. The recent desecration of Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue on the Law Faculty campus is ample proof that the law and order situation in the varsity needs immediate attention.

HT Image

Still, the varsity authorities do not appear keen to implement the security proposal submitted by Proctor Prof Jata Shankar.

Prof Jata Shankar and his team of assistant proctors had submitted an eight-page report to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rajen Harshe, seven months ago, suggesting a number of steps to revamp the security on the campus.

The report suggested altering the height of the boundary walls, identifying entry points, making provisions for parking of two-wheelers and four-wheelers, sealing unwanted entry points and removing residential structures and those residing in the teaching campuses, besides construction of security guard rooms.

In the campus-specific recommendations, the report pointed out that the AU had campuses scattered around, with residential structures, shops and civilian roads separating them from each other.

For the Arts Faculty, the report suggested raising the boundary wall behind the medieval history department upto the psychology department as well as raising the height of the walls between the Delegacy gate and the students union hall gate. It was also suggested that the students union hall gate be made higher and that security cabins be constructed at the union, KPUC and the library gates to regulate entry.

Construction of a barrack to house reserve security force personnel and removing all residential accommodations, legal and illegal, as well as shifting the post office and the bank to the FCI block or elsewhere were also some of the suggestions made by Prof Jata Shankar.

Raising of boundary walls at specific spots, construction of a wall between MB House and the science faculty and opening proctorial branch offices on all the campuses were also among the recommendations.

Realising the need of a fast, effective and reliable communication network to tackle any law and order problem, the report suggested connecting all the members of the proctorial team, security officer and his team of guards stationed at various entry points with a sturdy mobile network for quick and co-ordinated response.

The proctor had also suggested that in-charge of AU police outpost, SHO Colonelganj, CO Colonelganj and SP City be included in the communication network.

The report also suggested that vehicles for transportation of security personnel be made available and that the security guards be equipped with effective weapons as the open display of firearms on the campus by miscreants had been reported a number of times in the past.

Prof Jata Shankar said that the proposal had been forwarded to the finance committee and was likely to be approved in the next meeting of the committee.

Student leaders condemn the incident: Several Students associations today condemned the desecration of Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue in the Allahabad University on Thursday.

In a meeting held at the AU students’ union hall, student leader Abhishek Shukla condemned the incident and demanded arrest of the culprits. He said that the law and order situation in the State was miserable, as even the statues of great Indian leaders were unsafe. He also criticised the lathicharge on a students’ procession and demanded release of the arrested students and action against the guilty policemen. Another student leader, Deepak Shukla demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident.