The Hindu : Kerala News : Managements cancel entrance test

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Sunday, Jun 24, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Managements cancel entrance test

Staff Reporter

SFI, AISF activists unleash violence, disrupt the conduct of test

KOCHI: The Kerala Private Medical College Managements’ Association cancelled its entrance test for admission to the MBBS course after activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the All-India Students Federation (AISF) disrupted the conduct of the test here on Saturday.

A group of activists entered the Toc-H School auditorium, destroyed furniture and smashed windowpanes, forcing nearly 3,000 students and parents to leave.

The activists had marched to the auditorium, venue of the test, at around 7.45 a.m. They then staged a dharna in front of the school and shouted slogans against the college managements.

The police were not present. Senior police officials said security cover was not provided after the Kerala High Court on Friday rejected the management association’s plea for police protection. The court had asked the police to ensure law and order.

Terming the violence “Government-sponsored goondaism,” George Paul, chairman of the medical college managements’ association, said the association would now consider admitting students on the basis of marks in the qualifying examination (Plus Two).

It would inform the High Court that it was impossible to conduct a test in view of the worsening law-and-order situation.

Mr. Paul alleged that the police personnel who had set up barricades in front of the school moved away from the campus minutes before the commencement of the protest.

The association apologised to the parents and students for not able to conduct the test. Students and parents from various parts of the State and outside had turned up at the venue from 6 a.m.

The entrance test conducted by the State Self-financing B.Pharm. Colleges Association was held amid protests by Democratic Youth Federation of India activists here on Saturday. The police prevented them from entering the venue, Sacred Heart College campus. Anil Thomas, president of the association, said the test began at 11 a.m. on schedule.

Nearly 650 students appeared for it, he added.

SFI plea

The SFI said the managements’ association cancelled the test on finding that candidates failed to report at the venue. In a press release, it alleged that the goondas employed by the managements unleashed violence on the school premises.

Attempts to blame the federation’s activists for the violence had failed.

The release said the activists had laid siege to the entrance of the test venue from the morning. The managements’ representatives tried to intimidate the activists, but it was avoided following the intervention of the federation’s leaders.

Violence flayed

The Self-financing Engineering College Managements’ Association condemned the violence. In a press release, G.P.C. Nayar, president of the association, termed the attack a “challenge to the rule of law.” Attempts to threaten private managements by resorting to violent methods would destabilise the higher education sector, he said. C. I. Abdurahman, secretary of the association, said that student activists destroyed hall tickets and question papers kept at the venue of the test.

The association had urged the Government to take steps to ensure the smooth functioning of self-financing colleges in the State.

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