Violence erupts on Lucknow University campus
SHOW OF STRENGTH A day after the state government’s order on student union polls, rival groups from two hostels clashed with each other. Two students were injured seriously in the scuffle
LUCKNOW: Violence made a comeback on the campus of Lucknow University on Saturday when two groups of students from different hostels clashed with each other. The incident occurred just a day after the state government issued an order directing vice chancellors of universities and principals of degree colleges to conduct student union polls, which have not been held for almost a decade.
LUCKNOW: Violence made a comeback on the campus of Lucknow University on Saturday when two groups of students from different hostels clashed with each other. The incident occurred just a day after the state government issued an order directing vice chancellors of universities and principals of degree colleges to conduct student union polls, which have not been held for almost a decade.
Students of Acharya Narendra Dev (AND) hostel and Subhash hostel clashed with one another in a battle of supremacy that led to stone pelting. Two students, Shobhit Pachauri and Shubham Tewari, were injured seriously in the aftermath of the violence and had to be taken to Vivekanand Polyclinic for treatment. While the situation was brought under control, the campus remained tense and security was beefed up at the hostels.
According to sources, tension had been simmering between the inmates of AND and Subhash hostels for quite some time, over a function. However, what seemed to have triggered the brawl was the state government’s order on holding student union polls that provided just the opportunity to rival groups to flex their muscles in a show of strength.
Reportedly, Shobhit Pachauri of Subash hostel had a tiff with fellow hosteller Pradeep Yadav. Sources said Pachauri slapped Yadav, after which a number of inmates of AND hostel came out in support of Yadav. A pitched battle was fought between the two groups, which could be checked only after the intervention of the provost. Students who had indulged in violence were summoned to the proctor’s office to help them amicably resolve their differences.
On the insistence of university officials, Pachauri submitted in writing his intention to withdraw himself from the hostel. After Pachauri left the proctor’s office, students from AND surrounded him and his aide Shubham Tewari, and manhandled the duo. Reportedly they punched them in the stomach and hit them hard on the head. Later, chief proctor Prof Nishi Pandey reached the spot and constituted a committee, headed by Prof CK Sharma, to probe the incident and submit a report within three days. “The university will not tolerate any indiscipline on the campus and those who try to disturb the peaceful academic atmosphere will be severely dealt with,” said the proctor.
In the light of the fact that every time the state government rakes up the issue of student politics, violence finds its way on the LU campus, the varsity professors want the government to reconsider its decision regarding the student union polls, which they feel will derail the academic session.
In an attempt to galvanize its students’ wings ahead of the 2017 assembly polls, the ruling Samajwadi Party government decided to restore student union elections in all universities and degree colleges of UP.
Principal secretary, higher and secondary education, Jitendra Kumar wrote to vice chancellors of universities and principals of degree colleges, director of higher education, district magistrates and senior superintendents of police to ensure that student union polls were conducted as per the Lyngdoh committee recommendations.
A part of Kumar’s letter reads: “Vice chancellors must inform the government as to when they propose to hold the elections and also after conducting the polls. It is the universities’ responsibility to conduct polls peacefully.”