The Hindu : Kerala News : Cusat suspends classes

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Friday, Mar 03, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Cusat suspends classes

Staff Reporter

University Registrar attacked allegedly by striking students

KOCHI: Classes at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have been suspended till further notice following the assault on Registrar A. Ramachandran by a group of students on Thursday, giving a new turn to the strike that has been going on for past fortnight.

Those in university hostels have been asked to vacate the rooms immediately. Mr. Ramachandran's car was stopped by a group of students near the entrance of the university and the car was attacked. He was also assaulted, the police said. A case has been registered.

Mr. Ramachandran has been admitted to the Ernakulam Medical Trust Hospital after he complained of muscular pain.

At a press conference later, Mohammed Shiyaz, treasurer, and Hybi Eden, district president, of the Kerala Students Union alleged that the strike led by the Students Federation of India (SFI) was affecting the career prospects of nearly 450 students who had secured placements through campus interviews. The KSU will form a "Save CUSAT Forum" to protect the university from violent strikes taken out by various organisations, Mr. Shiyaz said. Five students, who got placements through campus interviews, also attended the press conference, and called for an early solution to the issue.

University blamed

The university officials, who have till date refused to initiate any dialogue to find a solution to the ongoing strike, were responsible for the uncertainty over the future of students, said Sindhu Joy, State president of the SFI.

By closing down the university under the pretext of the strike, that too when new admissions were being made, the officials were helping private self-financing colleges in the region, Ms. Joy said. The strike was triggered by the drowning of a student of the School of Industrial Fisheries on February 3.

A Syndicate sub-committee, formed after complaints of lapses on the part of some faculty members, found substance in the complaints, Ms. Joy said.

Unless the students dismissed for protesting were reinstated, the SFI would continue the strike. It would not allow the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar to enter the campus, she said.

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