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Kashmir varsity tension brews, students allege harassment by authorities
Tension continued to brew at Kashmir University today due to the friction between the supporters of KUSU and the authorities. After allegedly dismantling the KUSU old office, the authorities downplayed the recent police raid on a boys' hostel on the campus as "a routine security drill aimed at securing the VIP moment". Peerzada Ashiq reports.
Tension continued to brew at Kashmir University on Monday due to the friction between the supporters of the Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU) and the authorities. After allegedly dismantling the KUSU old office, the authorities downplayed the recent police raid on a boys' hostel on the campus as "a routine security drill aimed at securing the VIP moment".
The students, however, accused the authorities of resorting to harassment and pressure tactics. A police contingent and the proctorial staff of the varsity raided a boys' hostel on Saturday evening.
"The raid was aimed to harass those students who are demanding revocation of ban on the students union," said a student on the condition of anonymity.
The students, who held a meeting on Monday, claimed the police and the University's watch and ward staff were raiding the hostel at regular intervals now.
The students' allegation is denied by the authorities. "A police party came to us and said they have to search the boys' hostel to ensure secure movement of the VVIPs on Saturday evening," said Mohamamd Afzal Zargar, Kashmir University's chief proctor.
The chief proctor said the representatives of the proctorial wing were assigned to accompany the police. "We can't stop a security agency from searching the hostel. The team was accompanied by the hostel warden and a member from proctorial wing," said Zargar.
The police described the raid as routine drive.
The students at Kashmir University are protesting against the banning of the students union. A freash wave of protests triggered when the varsity authorities dismantled alleged office of the KUSU last week.
