Palamu Police on Wednesday took forceful measures ABVP activists in front of Nilamber Pitamber University where the ABVP members were sitting on dharna since July 31st. More than half a dozen activists suffered blows of the cane used by the security forces. One activist injured his hand after he attempted to smash a glass pane of the university door.
The ABVP demonstrated on August 6 supporting their 11 demands, the copy of which were given to the university on July 22. The ABVP sat on a day long dharna on July 31 too. In just six days time it again gathered momentum. The university on the other hand had prepared the response to the 11 demands as by ABVP. It also decided to release a white paper. The DSP PK Barwar said the police used caning after the agitators refused to accept the offer of the administration.
Barwar said “We had asked the agitators to meet the VC with a group of 10 or 20 people but they wanted the VC to be brought before them in the mob. This was not proper. The police used light force to get them dispersed.”
On the other hand the ABVP accused the administration police and civil both of using repressive measures against them. The ABVP cadres said that the police lathi charging them was unwarranted and unprovoked. It was avoidable.
The DSP on the other hand maintained that the use of the light force was the need of the situation which was done.
The retreating activists smashed window pane of one of a vehicle parked on the Mahila college road too. The 11 demands of the ABVP were centered round the academic and research facility like NAAC assessment of colleges, wi fi connectivity, better hostel , recovery of encroached land of the colleges, uniform pattern of admission in B Ed courses, issuance of academic and sports calendar etc.
The registrar of the university Amar Singh said all these 11 demands were responded to. He said the ABVP was given written request to have a table talk on these issues but in vain.
The ABVP on the other hand reasserted that the university is buying time and is not interested in solving the issues gripping the student community here. Sources said the university has already taken steps to provide amenities to students but for its lack of human resources and infra structural facilities its hands are tied.