Gujarat Plus - Gujarat on Web

Security to be increased at BJ students hospitalised Friday, November 9, 2001

News Source : Times News Network
AHMEDABAD: B J Medical College authorities took some more steps on Wednesday to persuade the students into calling off their indefinite hunger strike even as seven students were admitted to the Civil Hospital with dehydration. More than 100 parents, who have joined their wards in the agitation, have also joined the hunger strike as a protest.

Speaking to TNN, additional dean Usha Shah said they have already received approval from the state government to fill up vacancies for security personnel. The college has also decided to set up separate mess at each of the four blocks of the hostels to reduce skirmishes between the two groups of students, which have brought academic activity to a standstill.

"We have 13 vacancies for security personnel which will be filled up at the earliest," Shah said. "In fact, we are planning to double the number of such personnel and have already received approval for it." The tenders for the new canteens will also be issued soon.

However, the authorities have refused to concede to the main demand of the A, C and D block students _ which is suspension of 11 students from the B block, whom they allege have been responsible for the violence. "We have already suspended 14 students from the hostel for six months," dean K V Bhatt said. "We cannot take any further action until the police inquiry is completed." The internship of five students has also been extended by 15 days as a punishment, he added.

A and D block students, on the other hand, remained adamant and are not ready to call off the strike until the 11 students are suspended from the college for a semester. Of the seven admitted to the hospital, two are girls. They agreed to taking drips only at 5 pm on Wednesday even though they were admitted on Tuesday. "It is important for us to feel that the culprits have been punished and justice delivered," one of the students said.

They have decided to keep sitting on the college lawns and to continue with the strike despite the Diwali vacation beginning from Thursday onwards. The students say they will continue with the agitation even if the college remains closed.

B block students, accused of the violence, insist the matter is being stretched unnecessarily. They believe students on both sides have been adequately punished and that the strike should be called off. "The A and D block students come up with a longer list of students for suspension each day, which is not acceptable," a student representing the B block said. "We want peace now," the student added.

However, additional dean Shah insists suspension and rustication are long processes with approvals required both from the Gujarat University as well as the state government. "For the moment we are waiting for the report of the police investigation. As soon as they give us their findings, we will take action," she says.

News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]

 

This site is dedicated to our friend Younus M, who passed away on 28th Sept 00, and left on us an indelible memories ! - Team GujaratPlus.com

[P] Privacy Policy | © Copyright 2000-2006 |

Designed & Hosted by eZee Web Solutions