The Hindu : New Delhi News : DU hostel inmates go on indefinite strike

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Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006
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DU hostel inmates go on indefinite strike

Staff Reporter

Allegedly dragged out of their rooms and beaten up by the police

NEW DELHI: Residents of Mansarover Hostel on Delhi University's North Campus went on an indefinite hunger strike on Monday demanding dismissal of the Provost, Gurmeet Singh, alleging that students had been dragged out of their rooms and beaten up by the police at the behest of Prof. Singh on Friday night.

According to the students, things got out of hand when some students insisted on celebrating the results of the Law Faculty elections. A minor scuffle broke out between hostel inmates and this group. Later, the former reportedly blocked Ring Road. The police were called in, who used force to disperse the protesting students.

Hostel inmates and their supporters alleged high-handedness on the part of the police and the hostel authorities. "Students wanted to study and they requested the group engaged in celebration to stop the revelry. However, these boys started attacking the residents. The residents called the police. But when police personnel failed to turn up, they blocked Ring Road to make their point," said Nasirpur MLA Mahabal Mishra who visited the students on hunger strike to show his support.

Mr. Mishra alleged that things apparently turned ugly after the police arrived. "The SHO was drunk. He started beating them up. When they ran into their rooms, they were dragged out and beaten up. This sort of injustice can't be tolerated. The SHO must be suspended," he demanded.

Strongly denying the charges made against him, Prof. Singh said things took a different tone only after the students blocked Ring Road and went on a rampage. He said students had taken the law into their hands and the police had to resort to lathicharge to save public property from damage.

Meanwhile, in order to keep the campus trouble free and safe, the University has decided to keep the controversial bust of Rajiv Gandhi -- which had been placed in the Delhi University Students' Union office -- into safe keeping. With three office-bearers of the newly elected DUSU being from the Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the fourth from the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) which is opposed to the placing of the bust at the office, the University officials felt that there were bound to be heated exchanges and it was better to play safe.

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