VISVA-BHARATI STUDENTS SHIFT PROTEST SITE AFTER HC ORDER

KOLKATA: Students of West Bengal’s Visva-bharati University ended their agitation outside the campus residence of vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty on Friday afternoon after the Calcutta high court, while hearing a plea from the university, passed a strongly worded order asking the local police to remove the agitators after 4 pm.

“All demonstrations, banners, barricades and obstruction outside the residence of the vice-chancellor shall be forthwith removed by the officer-incharge, Santiniketan police station. The VC in addition to his own security guards shall also be provided with three constables from the Santiniketan police station...,” Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said in the order, seen by HT.

The protest began seven days ago over the over rustication of three students.

Asking the police to break all locks in the administrative building, including the residence of the VC, allegedly placed by the students, the order said, “No demonstration shall be conducted by any students or any persons within 50 metres of any portion or part of the university...”

The judge also banned the use of loudspeakers on campus and said no teacher or employee can be prevented from entering any department or office. He ordered the police to stop outsiders from entering the campus. “This court notes with anguish that the functioning of a university, which grooms the citizens of the future, has been disrupted.”

By late afternoon, the students moved the stage of their agitation 50 metres away from their previous location and started a fresh protest sans loudspeakers.

“Our movement will continue,” said Rupa Chakraborty, one of the agitators.

COURT SAID NO DEMONSTRATION SHALL BE CONDUCTED WITHIN 50 METRES OF ANY PART OF THE UNIVERSITY