Himachal Pradesh University tense as exam dates announced

Shimla: Tension among the warring ABVP and SFI students outfits continues to prevail at Himachal Pradesh University campus while the administration has decided to hold the annual examinations and have announced dates for it.

Declaring the dates of holding examinations from 7 June to 15 July, the university administration was still caught up in maintaining law and order on the campus as two students were said to have been beaten outside the campus premises, yesterday.

While SFI state president Kapil Bhardwaj claimed that ABVP activists had beaten up Abhishek and another student, however, ABVP campus president Kushal Kaundal denied any involvement of their outfit in any such violent incident.

For the violence that erupted on the campus two days ago, Superintendent of Police, Abhishek Dular, said that 5 SFI activists had been arrested. Those taken into custody included Punit Dhanta, Khushi Verma, Rahul Chauhan, Vikram Kayath and Hoshiyar Singh. Police was on the lookout for others who were involved in the violent incident, said Dular.

ABVP activists yesterday held a protest demonstration outside the deputy commissioner’s office, near the city center, demanding arrest of all the persons responsible for violence.

On the other hand SFI students demonstrated outside the Boileauganj police station, where the other comrade students have been detained and are in custody. The SFI activists were holding the police responsible of acting in a partisan manner and were demanding release of the arrested students.

Taking a tough stance university vice-chancellor ADN Bajpai said that severe action against the students found indulging in violence would be taken, which included cancellation of degrees, banning their entry on the campus and considering banning of students elections at the meeting of Executive Committee.

Photos by Amit