Puducherry: Police action on Pondicherry Central University campus evoked criticism from students. Students sought action against authorities who granted permission to police to enter the campus.
Pondicherry University witnessed a stir after students belonging to various unions raised slogans to register their protest against the visit of Tarun Vijay, former BJP MP, to deliver a talk organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on the campus on Thursday. Problems started when police tried to forcefully remove the students and lathicharged them injuring some.
“It was not a clash, but a one-sided violence, Students were peacefully protesting against the BJP leader who made racist comments against people of South India, Problems began when police started to use force on us,” say students. The student council of the university gave an official complaint to the Vice Chancellor in charge of the university, Anisha B. Khan, seeking action against authorities who gave permission to police to enter the campus.
“The police officers, when questioned their actions, claimed that the police had the power to do whatever they wanted. He verbally abused us as girls leering at us, morally policing us for raising our voices,” says Rabeeha Abdurahem, a first-year mass communication student of the university
At the same time Manish Mahapatra, secretary of ABVP unit, said that they were given permission to conduct the programme by the registrar himself.
“We have given prior notice to conduct program and the registrar approved it. They (protesters) were intentionally making trouble. They even threatened me to get ready to face the consequences”, he said.
‘Not sure who gave permission for cops to enter campus’
The police cannot enter the university campus and take action against students without the permission from the university authorities, said
R. Ramachandran, registrar in charge of the university. I am not very sure about who gave permission to the police as I was on leave yesterday. We will look into the matter and take action if necessary., He told DC.
“ I might have forwarded the letter given by the students seeking permission for Mr Vijay’s programme to sections concerned, but not given permission, because the administration has decided not to allow student groups to conduct programmes inviting leaders affiliated to any political parties, he added.
