Himachal Pradesh University students block traffic, cane charged

SHIMLA: Hundreds of students blocked traffic at Summer Hill Chowk of Himachal Pradesh University on Wednesday morning to protest against fee hike decision and seek direct elections for Student Central Association. The angry students also stopped the vehicle of vice-chancellor A D N Bajpai after which police resorted to cane-charge in which eight students were injured.
Students belonging to SFI sat on dharna at Summer Hill Chowk around 8.45am after which traffic came to a halt.They did not let vehicles of university officials enter the campus. Police had to deploy anti-riot squad and water cannon to control the situation.
SFI leaders have demanded that within 24 hours, the entire university administration should gather at the varsity auditorium to put forth its view after direct discussions with students on fee hike and direct elections of Student Central Association. They have warned the university authorities that until decision on fee hike and indirect elections was not rolled back, their agitation would continue. They have also threatened to intensify the agitation.
SFI campus president Suresh Kumar said chain hunger strike was already being held at university and in the coming days similar hunger strikes would be started in all the colleges of the state. "We will continue to protest and not allow administrative officials to enter the university," he said.
"The vice-chancellor took serious note of the incident at Summer Hill Chowk in which dozens of activists of a student organization were involved against whom many FIRs are pending. The VC has categorically made it clear that stringent action will be taken against those involved in the incident," said a statement issued by the university.
Bajpai has warned the student organization not to take law in its hands. He also called upon other students of the university and their parents to extend their cooperation in maintaining the peaceful academic atmosphere at the university and in the campuses of its affiliated colleges.