Students vandalise property at DU dept during protest against Baisoya
NEWDELHI: A group of students on Thursday broke locks, window panes and notice boards at Delhi University’s (DU) department of Buddhist Studies during a protest organised by the Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) over the alleged fake degree of DU students’ union president Ankiv Baisoya.
Denying any hand behind the violence, NSUI said its members were holding a peaceful protest. Students claimed DU had not taken any action even after Thiruvalluvar University in Tamil Nadu, where Baisoya claimed he had studied, confirmed the degree she submitted was a fake.
KT Sarao, head of the Buddhist Studies department, alleged a group of 20 men barged in and vandalised the property.
“They entered at about 1.45 pm and caused extensive damage to the property. All notice boards, locks and doors of the rooms and two glass windows of the seminar rooms were broken,” he said, adding he was not aware of the protesters’ political affiliation.
Sarao said the department has submitted CCTV footage to the police and administration. “The persons involved should be identified and strict action should be taken against them,” he said.
Confirming the vandalism, Nupur Prasad, deputy commissioner of police (north), said, “We received a complaint regarding the ruckus and vandalism at the Buddhism Studies department. A case is being registered under the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property (DPDP) Act,” he said.
“We do not know who vandalised the property. We had gathered to talk to the department head to know the reasons behind the delay in taking action against Baisoya but he refused to meet us,” said Akshay Lakra, NSUI’S Delhi president.
The outfit also filed a petition in the Delhi high court challenging Baisoya’s admission.
Last week, Thiruvalluvar University’s vice-chancellor had reportedly confirmed that Baisoya had never been their student. But DU said it was yet to get any such message. “We have not received any email, message, call or post from that university till Thursday evening. We cannot initiate any action against a student based on media reports,” Sarao said.