Expelled students of BBAU burn effigy of probe order

Expelled students of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) on Sunday burnt the effigy of the university’s circular that stated the varsity had instituted judicial probe into September 7 incident in which a number of students allegedly beat up a professor, for which eight dalit students were expelled.

Rejecting judicial probe, the expelled Dalit students said they had no faith in any committee of the university. “We have appeared before two committees. The university is determined not to revoke expulsion of dalit students. We will continue with our agitation till all eight students are allowed to resume their studies,” said one of the expelled students.

The Dalit students stated, “We have been demanding CBI or judicial probe into various irregularities by the vice-chancellor and university administration in last 2-3 years. Instead, the university ordered probe into the September 7 incident which was not as big an issue as university officials want everyone to believe. At a time when future of eight dalit students is in question, the university is making all efforts to ruin their future prospects.”

To investigate into the alleged attack on a professor by dalit students, the BBAU administration has ordered a judicial probe by instituting one-man committee of Justice Kalimullah Khan, a retired judge of Allahabad high court.

The committee is expected to suggest to the V-C if some action should be taken against any persons or groups found responsible for the incident.

Justice Khan will also suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future. This comes after members of proquota body met HRD minister Prakash Javadekar and union minister Ram Vilas Paswan in New Delhi and sought their intervention to revoke expulsion of dalit students.

The representatives said the university had expelled the dalit students illegally to harm their career. “We demand a judicial probe and the matter should also be referred to the CBI,” they said. According to the delegation, they urged ministers to take up the matter with the Prime Minister so that the expulsion order could be revoked.

Aarakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (ABSS) convenor Avadhesh Kumar Verma claimed both ministers were sympathetic towards dalit students.

On September 7, a few dalit students had allegedly misbehaved with a professor and an assistant registrar. On the same day, a proctorial team of university expelled eight dalit students. Since then they have been fighting the expulsion.