In an early morning raids on various hostels in Dumka run by the Welfare department and SP College Dumka, the district administration recovered a huge number of traditional weapons, including bows and arrows, axes, daggers, liquor bottles.
The raids were conducted after police got a tip-off that unwanted elements were staying in the hostels, who were involved in violence and creating ruckus during bandhs and also doing illegal activities.
As there were no claimants of the weapons and other items seized by the administration, Dumka Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha said that it was clear that the hostels had become a hideout for the unwanted elements. The DC has requested the SKMU administration to close hostels run by Welfare department till further notice so that the bonafide students could be allotted.
The DC said that a database of actual students would be prepared and within three days and rooms would be distributed to the students. Sinha has asked the Welfare department and SKMU to make a joint team and issue separate identity cards to the students living in hostels so that they can be easily recognised.
He also instructed them to keep a regular watch on hostels so that no unauthorised person could enter the premises illegally. For this, private security guards should be deployed and CCTV cameras should be installed.
Dumka Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said no force was used during the raids. In the November 25 bandh, these anti-social elements had torched six vehicles and ransacked private properties in Dumka. On the basis of videography and photography, four persons have been arrested for interrogation.
The Dumka administration has been getting information of such elements occupying the hostels for the last several months and after the violence and arson by them during the bandh on November 25 the administration had asked the university administration to intervene in the matter.
The SKMU had given notice to illegally residing inmates of hostels to leave the premises by November 28 morning. And, when they did not leave the hostel, the university administration sought administration’s help in the matter.
The raids were conducted by a special team, including senior magistrate, two magistrates, Dumka police jawans and four companies of RAF.