Rowdies hurl crude bombs, damage campus property, vehicles . Police resort to lathicharge, six hurt
ABOUT HALF-A-DOZEN student leaders were injured as police resorted to a lathi-charge when they turned violent, hurled crude bombs and stones at commuters and university teachers to protest against indecisiveness over LUSU elections.
The students damaged many vehicles parked at the University guesthouse.
Proctor AN Singh announced closure of the campus on Wednesday.
In fact, a student delegation was about to proceed for the V-C’s residence to hold a dialogue on the issue when somebody tossed a stone at the police. The police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. The students then retaliated and resorted to massive vandalism.
Proctor said that a group of students even stormed into the teachers’ quarters and hurled crude bombs. They also misbehaved with teachers and their family members and hurled crude bomb when chased by the police.
Clash between the police and students continued till the filing of this report.
Almost all hostellers came out from their rooms and blocked all roads leading to the LU hostels keeping the police at bay.
Work on the LU campus remained suspended as the students had been on a protest dharna since morning.
{{/usCountry}}Work on the LU campus remained suspended as the students had been on a protest dharna since morning.
{{/usCountry}}They were opposing the LU decision of not holding the poll till the Supreme Court verdict. The decision led to an apparent rift among Samajwadi Party student leaders, since a section of them supported the LU decision while the others pressed for an early election. Those pressing for the elections gathered at the students’ union building on Tuesday and decided to protest the LU decision.
They forced closure of administrative and other offices on the campus. Some students stoned the Education Department and forced the V-C to leave the department.
Agitated student leaders then barged into the proctor’s office and damaged some furniture. They also ransacked the Commerce Block. Tagore Library was not spared either. The rowdyism forced common students to leave the campus.
Net result: Teaching came to a halt in most of the departments. Around 1 pm, student leaders gheraoed the V-C’s residence and staged demonstration for hours. They also staged a road blockade causing inconvenience to the commuters.
In an official communiqué, a varsity official stated the V-C RP Singh had taken a serious view of the incidents. Singh even warned strict disciplinary action against the ‘vandals’ and said that rowdy student leaders would have to pay for their act.
Interestingly, on Monday, SP student leaders, including some present and former LUSU office-bearers, met V-C and gave him in writing to postpone the election till SC delivers its final verdict on the issue.