Armed policemen to guard Calicut VC round the clock

KOZHIKODE: Calicut University vice-chancellor M Abdul Salam will be provided 24/7 police protection, thereby conferring on him the dubious distinction of probably being the only VC in the country to have police bodyguards armed with 5.56 mm INSAS rifles. The decision was taken on Thursday after Thrissur Range IG T J Jose along with Malappuram district police chief Debesh Kumar Behera visited the campus.
"We reviewed the security situation in the campus especially in the backdrop of Wednesday's attack. It was felt that an enhanced police presence is needed to provide protection to the VC," the IG said. The campus has been witness to a series of agitations and on Wednesday the VC fainted after he was heckled in his office for over three hours by DYFI and SFI activists.
A permanent police control room with 30 personnel drawn from various wings, including Malabar Special Police, will also be set up in the campus. According to varsity officials, police have assured them that riot control vehicle Vajra will be stationed in the campus if required.
The VC last month wrote to governor P Sathasivam stating that his life and that of his family was under threat after his residence came under attack twice by SFI activists who had staged a five-month long agitation over the hostel issue.
Academics and students expressed outrage at the latest move, saying the campus will turn into a police camp and that it was meant to intimidate protesters and silence dissent. The varsity has witnessed almost daily agitations since Salam took over as VC three and a half years ago. The latest violence in the campus began after SFI and DYFI alleged corruption in the appointment of 'assistants' after a IUML leader was caught in a sting operation by a news channel asking for Rs 15 lakh bribe to facilitate staff appointment.