ABVP bandh: Classes suspended in HP colleges

Classes in nearly 150 government and private colleges across the state remained affected due to Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) call for a statewide bandh today. At least 1.5 lakh students were affected across the state,said the ABVP spokesperson. They were protesting against the lathicharge on ABVP activists in Mandi district two days ago,when the students had gathered outside the function venue of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to protest against the ‘hostile attitude’ of Mandi Deputy Commissioner. The ABVP had alleged that DC Onkar Sharma had misbehaved with their activist in his office. Today,the classes were called off and ABVP members took out processions in college campuses and district headquarters,besides burning an effigy of DC Mandi in Shimla. The situation across the state remained peaceful,said the police. Classes remained suspended at Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla.

Umesh Dutt,state organising Secretary and national secretary of ABVP,said,“Later in the day the CM called ABVP state president Dev Dutt and national secretary Manchali Thakur for talks. He has assured us of an action against the DC and his transfer.”

If the government fails to act we will intensify our agitation,as this was not the first incident of his misconduct,he has also misbehaved with common man in past,he claimed.