Mysore, May 26 (SH)- Irked by the incident of a student committing suicide after allegedly being denied exam admission ticket due to attendance shortage, students of Maharaja's College here staged a protest stir for the second day yesterday.
The students mobbed the college building and resorted to stone-throwing, causing damage to flower pots and the gates. The atmosphere turned tense around the college for sometime. The protestors tried to gain entry into college building by breaking window panes and doors.
Police had a hard time in bringing the situation under control. Being left with no other option and following orders from higher officials, Police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse the students who had crowded in front of the college, causing injury to some students.
A car parked near the college building and a two-wheeler belonging to a reporter from a private television channel were also damaged in the stone-throwing incident.
Degree exams are starting from today. One student Suresh (19) of Hura village in Nanjangud taluk who was to write the second semester BA degree exam committed suicide yesterday morning by consuming poison.
After coming to know about the suicide, the irate students tried to lay siege to the college in the evening and staged a stir demanding suitable compensation to the family of the deceased, holding the college authorities responsible for his death.
Neither the Principal nor any of the administration staff who were inside, came out. Enraged by this, the students attempted to enter the Principal's room. Even as the Police tried to stop them, a wordy battle ensued. The students ran helter-skelter and hurled stones at the Police as they resorted to light lathi charge.
Students Welfare Dean Prof. D.K. Srinivas and ex-Mayor Purushotham arrived at the scene and listened to the students. Speaking later, Purushotham charged that the teaching staff were discriminating on the basis of caste and were not giving attendance to the students.
However, after discussions with Principal Prof. S.N. Gayathri, Purushotham assured the students that he would get the problem resolved after speaking to the Vice-Chancellor. Not satisfied with his assurance, the students demanded that chance be given for writing the exams.
About 579 students out of 843 facing attendance shortage may write the exam by remitting fine. But 267 students who have attendance less than 60 percent are not eligible for admission to exam hall, according to a Supreme Court decision, explained Prof. Gayathri expressing her helplessness in the matter.
After her assurance that even the students who had not remitted the prescribed fine would be permitted to write the exam, the students withdrew their agitation.
DCPs Rajendra Prasad and Basavaraja Malagathi, ACP Vishnuvardhan and other officers supervised tight Police bandobast.
Courtesy : Star Of Mysore