Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Sept 13:Merciless beating up of a scholar inside his Department led to major law and order problem on the Jammu University campus inviting police action and arrest of some accused, including three girl students.
While condition of the beaten up Sanskrit scholar Kapil Shastri was stated to be stable at GMC Hospital, the JU authorities acted tough and ordered rustication of two main accused and banned entry of four girl students who have also been suspended form the University.
Besides, the University also ordered a complete ban on activities of controversial Progressive Students Association (PSA), which was allegedly behind the entire trouble on the campus today. A high-level inquiry has been constituted by the university to probe into the matter.
The day-long high-voltage drama on the campus continued till late this evening and police authorities remained busy discussing law and order in the university where Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad is schedule to arrive in connection with a programme tomorrow.
The trouble erupted this morning around 11.30 when a group of PSA activists accompanied by president of Gujjar-Bakerwal Students Association (GBSA), Talib Hussain forced their entry in Sanskrit Department and started beating up Kapil Shastri, who had some verbal dual with the former near the main campus gate yesterday.
Kapil had objected forced closure of the campus main gate by PSA and GBSA activists, who were observing fast for setting up a Gojri Research Centre in JU.
The PSA activists numbering around a dozen and Talib Hussain, severely beat up Kapil Shastri and dragged him on stairs from first floor before fleeing the scene leaving their victim critically injured.
As soon as other students and scholars came to know about the incident, they marched towards the office of Dean Students Welfare where some of the accused had already reached projecting themselves as victim.
Within minutes, the entire campus apparently plunged into a chaos with students raising slogans against PSA and demanding stern action against the alleged accused. To ensure that the accused may not escape from the university premises, the protesting students closed all the gates of JU campus and gheroed the office of Dean Students Welfare.
Soon the Vice-Chancellor Prof M P S Ishar also reached the spot and sought to pacify the agitating students who remained stuck to their demand for arrest of all the accused and a complete ban on activities of PSA.
Meanwhile, a Police party, led by SP City Rajeshwar Singh and PP Incharge Ware House, Sub Inspector Iqbal Bhat also reached the campus and arrested one of the main accused among 9 PSA activists from the DSW office.
The students continued their protest till the University issued a formal order banning activities of PSA, rustication of two main accused and suspension of four girl students.
According to JU Registrar Prof Manoj K Dhar, Talib Hussain of Law Department and M S Bhatti of Political Science have been rusticated with immediate effect while four girl students, prima facie involved in the incident, namely Sakshi of Political Science, Sunandhini of Law, Marvi Slathia of Political Science and Kathleen Kour of Law School have been suspended besides their entry on the campus is also banned till pending enquiry.
Besides, the JU has banned the entry of five ex-students and outsiders on the campus. They include Manik Sharma of Political Science, Tazim Choudhary of Dogra Law College, Niazi of Commerce College, Akram and Rohit Bharti, the Registrar further informed.
The Vice-Chancellor constituted a high-level committee of senior Professors, headed by Controller Examination to probe into the matter and submit a detailed report.
As per police, 8 PSA activists, including three girls and one of the main accused M S Bhatti were taken into custody from the campus. However, after preliminary investigations, five PSA activists were released while Bhatti and three girls are still under arrest. Six accused, namely Talib Hussain, Manik Sharma, Niazi, Akram, Rohit Bharti and Tazim Choudhary are absconding, police added.
An FIR under Section 307 RPC has been registered against the accused at Ware House Police Post for further investigations.
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