‘Assault on campus’: Haryana govt accepts agri university students’ demands; V-C to be sent on 6 months’ leave

The students said the government has assured them that Vice-Chancellor Dr B R Kamboj will be sent on a six-month leave and that a three-member probe panel will be formed to inquire into the June 10 incident. A senior officer from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has confirmed that the students’ demands have been accepted.

The agreement between the students and the government came a day after a student mahapanchayat was held in Hisar on Tuesday. During the gathering, which was attended by senior farmer leaders including Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Chaduni as well as MLAs Aditya Surjewala and Arjun Chautala, the students had announced that they would “close” the university on June 27 if their demands were not met by then.

Over the last 15 days, students have been agitating over the alleged assault and against recent changes in stipend eligibility for postgraduate and doctoral scholars, highlighting that such financial support is essential for their academic continuity. They also sought the resignation of Kamboj and action against other officials allegedly responsible for the June 10 incident.

PhD student Arun Gill said minister Dhanda assured them that their demands will be accepted. “Seven of our demands have been accepted in total, while a negotiation has taken place on the demand related to the vice-chancellor. We will lift the dharna after action on the assurances given to us.”

MSc final-year student Pooja said, “The government has agreed to send the vice-chancellor on six months’ leave.”

The police have already arrested assistant professor Radhey Shyam and booked seven others, including registrar Pawan Kumar and chief security officer Sukhbir Singh, for allegedly attacking the students with sticks.

The students demanded the suspension and permanent removal of the registrar, chief security officer, and the director of students’ welfare, besides a ban on the entry of the chief security officer to the main campus until his retirement. They also called for an assurance that no legal or disciplinary action will be taken against any student or staffer who participated in the agitation. Furthermore, they sought rescheduling of all university examinations conducted after June 10 and stated that their demand concerning the stipend has been accepted.

The university administration has removed director of students’ welfare Dr M L Khichar and assigned the charge to Dr S K Pahuja.

The students’ agitation at CCSHAU—one of Asia’s largest agricultural universities—had become a prominent issue in Haryana, with senior Opposition leaders and farmers’ organisations condemning the alleged assault and extending support to the students.

The government had already agreed to most of the students’ demands following multiple rounds of meetings. However, the students continued to insist on the resignation of the vice-chancellor.

In his police complaint, first-year BSc student Dipanshu made serious allegations against the vice-chancellor and senior university officials regarding the June 10 incident. He alleged that they were attacked twice on that day while staging a peaceful protest. “At 10.15 pm, we were sitting peacefully near the V-C’s residence. His car arrived, and following his directions, registrar Pawan Kumar, professor Radhe Shyam, chief security officer Sukhbir Singh, and university security guards attacked us with sticks,” said Dipanshu in his police complaint, which later formed the basis of an FIR against the university officials.

On its part, the university administration has accused students of attempting to forcefully enter the vice-chancellor’s office and residence, and assaulting security personnel.