Fresh violence on ECC campus

UPSET OVER the college management's decision to go ahead with the formation of a students' council in place of a students' union, Ewing Christian College (ECC) students created ruckus and indulged in stone-pelting within the college premises on Friday. Police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Trouble started when a large number of students gathered at the college and decided to protest against the formation of the students' council and demand re-formation of the students' union.

Decision to form students’ council protested

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UPSET OVER the college management's decision to go ahead with the formation of a students' council in place of a students' union, Ewing Christian College (ECC) students created ruckus and indulged in stone-pelting within the college premises on Friday.

Police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Trouble started when a large number of students gathered at the college and decided to protest against the formation of the students' council and demand re-formation of the students' union.

A firm refusal by the college administration angered the students and they turned violent.

Before the college officials could take any action, the mob started pelting stones at various buildings of the college, including that of the Chemistry Department, Tooker Hall and the principal's office. The stone-pelting caused heavy damages to the college property.

Sensing the intensity of the situation, the college authorities asked for police help and within moments a heavy contingent of cops reached the college. On seeing the cops arriving, some students preferred to escape while others tried to challenge the cops and this led to a mild-lathicharge.

Later, a number of police officials and the additional chief magistrate first also held talks with college officials.

It may be recalled that ECC took the decision to do away with the students' union and install a students' council and the proposal received the go ahead of the college management committee in July in this regard.

As per the regulations, the council is to have 108 members and election and nomination of meritorious students for it has already been completed on August 30.

Sources said that the college was putting up a notice, informing about the first meeting of the council members to be held on September 2 that sparked the protest on the campus.

Later, the staff organisation of ECC held a meeting and resolved that the college would allow only the already formed students' council to act as a representative body of students and that the question of the formation of a student union on the old pattern would not be reconsidered.

The college faculty has decided that the teaching would resume from Saturday.