Student unrest hits varsities

ACADEMIC activities were greatly affected in Varanasi as the top three universities were hit by student unrest. While students at Sampurnanad Sanskrit University (SSU) went on the rampage in protest against lathicharge by the varsity?s security personnel there, at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth (MGKV), students boycotterd classes and raised slogans against Tuesday?s lathicharge by cops in BHU.

ACADEMIC activities were greatly affected in Varanasi as the top three universities were hit by student unrest. While students at Sampurnanad Sanskrit University (SSU) went on the rampage in protest against lathicharge by the varsity’s security personnel there, at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth (MGKV), students boycotterd classes and raised slogans against Tuesday’s lathicharge by cops in BHU.

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Tension prevailed at the Sampurnanad Sanskrit University (SSU) following lathicharge on some students by the varsity’s security personnel on the campus on Wednesday.

Students lodged an FIR against a professor - cum- dean, a lecturer and four security personnel. The trouble arose allegedly during the admission process for the courses of Shastri (graduate) and Acharya (post graduate).

Agitated over the attack by security personnel on their friends, students went on rampage on the campus and blocked road in Teliabagh for some time. Later, they marched to Chetganj police station and also demonstrated there, demanding arrest of those responsible for the attack.

Meanwhile, heavy police force was deployed on the campus to avoid any untoward incident. However, the varsity administration had not yet filed FIR against the students.

According to information, some students had gone to the office of Vyakarana department for admission of some candidates. Head of the department and dean of faculty Prof Srikant Pandey refused admission to the students as the candidates had not reported for counselling as part of admission process.

This led to heated exchange of words between the two sides. Meanwhile, a group of four security personnel resorted to lathi charge to disperse the students. Bedlam prevailed on the campus soon after the lathicharge.

Students in large number soon reached outside the campus and blocked the busy Andhrapul - Lahurabeer road for some time. It ended after intervention of police officials. Later, the students rushed to the nearby Chetganj police station for lodging an FIR against varsity personnel including a professor and a lecturer.

Prof Srikant Pandey said when he refused to entertain the unfair demand of students for admission, they broke windowpanes and tube lights. They also tried to attack him but security personnel stopped them, he claimed. “I shall not succumb to any pressure for unfair admissions”, he said.

Station officer of Chetganj said, prima facie it appeared that students had been beaten up. A case under Section, 323, 504 and 506 was lodged against Prof Srikant Pandey, a lecturer, SK Pandey and four security guards.

Meanwhile, academic activities were partially affected in Social Science faculty, Arts faculty and Law faculty in BHU as some students boycotted classes in protest against Tuesday’s lathicharge due to which several students were injured. Some students were seen wearing black ribbons on their arms in BHU.

However, the authorities claimed that there was greater attendance in various departments in BHU than normal days.

Besides, two BA (Part II) students, Niraj Rai and Pankaj Mishra, allegedly involved in forcing other students to boycott classes, were detained and later released in BHU today.

“Two students were detained and later released after a written apology from them today,” said chief proctor of BHU, Prof SK Singh. There was greater attendance in almost all the departments than normal days, he added. A five-member delegation of students was likely to meet BHU V-C Prof Panjab Singh for the restoration of student union.

On the other hand, MGKVstudents torched the effigy of BHU V-C outside the MGKV main gate against the lathicharge. Student union president Satyendra Singh said that they would extend their support to BHU students.