Tension in JU campus after students' clashes

Syed Amjad Shah

JAMMU, Dec 6: The claim of foolproof security in the Jammu University campus once again proved false when some students along with the 'outsiders' entered the Jammu University Boy's Vivekanand Hostel and allegedly beat up some hostelers on Wednesday night.The incident took place at around 7 PM in the Vivekanand Boys Hostel when some miscreants entered the boy's hostel and started beating the inmates, shouting slogans against a particular community and forcing them to sing 'Vandematram'.

The hostelers also alleged that the said miscreants included Pawan Kumar alias Manu a student of MP.Ed, Lavjeet Singh Jimmy student of Buddhist Studies Department, Amit Saini a resident of Pathankot and Balwinder Singh Jasrotia alias BSF. They also forcibly got some blank pages signed by the victims.

Those who refused to do so were severely beaten.It is pertinent to mention here that warden of the said hostel Gurdev Singh was also present there buthe chose not to intervene as a particular group of students were harassed.All the victims, who refused to disclose their names, said that "they fear that they will again be harassed if their names came up".

The students of various departments today congregated in front of the Administration Block of Jammu University to lodge their protest against the incident demanding strict action and enquire into the incident.The agitators were also joined by number of other student union organizations.

They were shouting slogans against the administration for it's failure in providing security in the campus day-to-day such incidents.Dissatisfied over the reaction of the authorities no body came out of the office to answer the queries of the agitating students. Students broke the window panes, paintings and other items in the said block. However, when University Vice-Chancellor Amitabh Mattoo was contacted he said," we are taking serious note of the incident in the Vivekanand Boys hostel in the campus and the Administration Block added that a written complaint has also been given to Superintendent of Police (South) in this connection". He again said that those who were involved in the incident, if found guilty will be punished according.

He disclosed that university is planning for opening a Police Post in side the campus of the University for avoiding such incidents in future on the pattern of Kashmir University where a Police Station has been established inside the campus.'University Authorities are also planning for arranging twenty-four police patrol party in the campus so that such incident can be checked' informed Public Relation Officer Jammu University Dr. Pritam Singh.However, a committee has also been framed under the headship of Head of Department Prof Naresh Padha to probe into the incident by the authorities of Jammu University.

Looking into the gravity of the situation varsity authorities have suspended two students who were involved in the incident including Pawan Kumar and Lovejeet Singh.