Students, cops scuffle in AU over exam dates

Visakhapatnam: Hundreds of students from degree colleges of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, ASR and Anakapalle districts on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the Andhra University entrance gate demanding postponement of second and fourth semester examination, as even 50 percent of the syllabus has not been completed.

Authorities deployed a large number of police personnel. There was a scuffle between them and students who tried to barge into the campus. No arrests have been made.

There are 186 degree colleges in these four districts, both private and government-owned. They have scheduled examinations from September 1.

Visakhapatnam SFI general secretary L.J. Naidu, who led the agitation, said there should be a gap of six months between two semester-end examinations. The last examination had been held just five months ago. Moreover, no college in the four districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, ASR and Anakapalle has completed even 50 percent of the syllabus.

“Last week we gave a memorandum to Andhra University registrar Prof. V. Krishnamohan. He said he would consider our request later, as he had been busy with preparations for university convocation,” the SFI leader said.

When the agitators started getting restive in the afternoon, university authorities summoned student representatives and informed them that they will take a decision on Wednesday.

“If they fail to take a decision, we will organise a Chalo University with thousands of students,” Naidu warned.