Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Aug 25: Amidst protests and counter protests by students and some non-teaching staff members, the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University at Rajouri was today closed till further orders and the students have been asked to vacate the hostels and go back to their homes.
Official sources said that this decision has been taken to avoid any clash between the two groups of the students and possible violence and blood-shed on the campus and allow the agitation to die down. The orders were issued by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Irshad Ahmed Hamal after a meeting with all the Deans/ HODs, officiating Registrar and Deputy Registrar besides other senior functionaries of the Varsity this evening.
Vice Chancellor when contacted said, “We have closed the University till further orders. The students have been asked to vacate the hostels and go to their homes on holidays for some days. It has been done after collective decision taken by all the senior functionaries of the University in a meeting held this afternoon to avoid any possible clash between the two groups of students. It is hoped that peace will return in the University with this action,” IA Hamal maintained.
During the day, the students again boycotted their classes and went on strike. They also held demonstration against the University authorities alleging that they (students) have been befooled by issuing order by a junior officer which has no meaning and validity. They demanded that Registrar should be sent on leave as he was issuing indirect threats to the students involved in the agitation while sitting in the University. He may also influence the inquiry even by sitting as OSD in the office of Vice Chancellor.
Later, a group of students mostly from Rajouri area also started counter protest alleging that some students from a particular region were disturbing peace in the University and damaging their studies and over all atmosphere. They alleged that some people were instigating these students for their vested interests and many locals of the area were not supporting it.
Though they were not in large number, but raising slogans they started moving towards the venue of other group’s protest dharna. The police party led by a DySP (Armed Police) Zahir Zafri sensing trouble rushed there along with force men and averted possible clash on the campus. The Police officer then talked to this group and asked for their I-Cards, but during scrutiny most of the students escaped as they were some outsiders. This drama continued for about half an hour. The first group continued their strike near the gate but they did not close it and allowed free movement.
Meanwhile, some non-teaching staff members also held yet another protest in the University and alleged that agitating students misbehaved with them. They termed the protest and strike as illegal and motivated as after agreement there was no logic behind the strike. They held protest in support of Rashid Choudhary for some time and then dispersed.
Meanwhile, a spokesman of the BGSB University termed the strike of the students on Monday as illegal and unjustified as all the main issues raised by the students stood resolved. He said after deliberations with the district administration and University authorities, all the issues were resolved and Registrar Mohd Rashid Choudhary was transferred as OSD to VC till the investigation is completed. Moreover, he has surrendered the official vehicle to the new officiating Registrar Mohd Ishaq. New Registrar also assumed the charge on August 22 soon after issuance of order by the university. He clarified that Rashid Choudhary has not violated the University order and the reports appearing in the section of press that Rashid Choudhary has refused to honour the order of VC is not factual.
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