Students protesting against restrictions on campus protest
The issue stems from a Nov 2 protest by representatives of several left-wing, progressive, and Ambedkarite student organisations on the university campus. Following Monday’s protest, the university released a note stating that student representatives would be called for a meeting with management council members to present their side.
Uttam Bhajnawale, a senior police inspector of Chatushringi police station, said a university staff member had approached the police to lodge a complaint. The process of filing an FIR was underway at Chatushringi police station, a university official said. A senior official from the university said that Wednesday’s management council meeting was adjourned and the students would be invited soon. The students resorted to violence and vandalised the VC’s car,” the official said. We will continue our democratic and constitutional struggle until the contentious circulars are withdrawn and students’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest are protected,” said Abhishek Shelkar, president of the University Students’ Struggle Action Committee (SPPU Unit).
Student organisations alleged that police manhandled students, including women, while escorting the vice-chancellor out of the premises. The university, however, claimed that the students turned aggressive, tried to obstruct the VC’s path, and vandalised his vehicle, forcing the police to intervene to ensure his safety. They were protesting a circular issued last month, which stated that protests not directly related to the university would not be allowed inside the campus. “Since there was insufficient time to invite all the representatives, we decided to invite them at a later date. This was communicated to the students, but they refused to listen. The students soon turned aggressive and tried to stop the VC when he was leaving the management council meeting. The police stepped in to safely escort the VC to his car. “Instead of addressing the students’ concerns, the vice-chancellor and registrar chose to leave. When students tried to question them, the police manhandled and assaulted them, including women. The administration has repeatedly issued confusing circulars without taking student representatives into confidence and has failed to honour its promise of a meeting.
the students were not invited Although the management council meeting was held on Wednesday.