BANGALORE: The talks between the management and students of Chinai College and School of Nurising at Bommanahalli here on Tuesday failed to make any headway because the boycott of classes by over 250 nursing students against the increase in fee entered the eighth day.

The students had been protesting against the management's decision to increase the mess and accommodation fee besides seeking improved quality of food.

The students, mostly hailing from Kerala, have been opposing the increase in the mess and hostel fee.

They even alleged that the management had been demanding Rs. 20,000 in excess from each student than what was told to them during admission.

Fee increased

They said while the mess and accommodation fee had been increased from Rs. 2,200 to Rs. 2,500, the college had been demanding Rs. 20,000 extra from each student.

They said, "We had to pay Rs. 20,000 extra to the college as the demand was made before the examination, and we have the receipts to prove it."

Besides, they said that although they were willing to pay extra for the mess and accommodation, the quality of food served to them was of poor quality, and that the toilets were badly maintained.

Students told The Hindu , on condition of anonymity, that they had been "mentally tortured" by the management after they questioned the fee increase.

They said that they had been forced to stay in hostel that lacked facilities like toilets and drinking water. In fact, they pointed out that four students from Kerala were injured after the students of junior batch assaulted them.

Charges refuted

Refuting the allegations that the students had been physically abused by the college authorities, secretary of the college, H.K. Bhagawan Das, said: "The problem started after two groups fought on the campus, and the people in the neighbourhood came to rescue one group. In the melee, a few students were injured."

He said that the college authorities were not involved, and that the matter had been brought to the notice of the Madiwala police.

He said it was not true that students had been asked to pay more than what had been told to them during the admission.

He said, "The mess and accommodation fee has been increased by Rs. 300, and that too after a gap of four years. We have been forced to increase the fee following rise the prices of essential commodities."

The students had not agreed to attend classes even after management offered concession, he said.

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