For dharna on restoring union,AMU suspends five students

These 10 students along with other students have been staging dharna in front of the residence of the vice-chancellor Professor P K Abdul Azis on the campus from October 4. There are demanding restoration of students union in the university. Azis is forced to stay in a guest house for over a month because of the blockade created outside his official residence.

“Till last week,the student dharna was peaceful except some instances of burning effigies. But now they have started disturbing the private life of the university officials and teachers at night. They are also trying to disturb teaching and administrative work in some departments. These students have crossed all the limits of decency,decorum and dignity,” said Professor Mohammad Zubair Khan,AMU Proctor.

The striking students are also threatening the teachers to face dire consequences. “More than 100 students laid siege to my office and misbehaved with the staff today,” he said. Authorities said the students’ demands have been accepted and an election has been notified on November 22. As per schedule,the nomination would be filed on January 3 and elections would take place on January 13.

“But now they have added one demand of conducting elections of those students also who are elected for AMU Court. They are adamantly,obdurately and flagrantly still sitting on dharna after due notification of election. This amounts to illegal,unlawful encroachment on public land and blocking of the road of public utility and would be tantamount to vitiating the atmosphere of campus,” said the proctor.

Three days ago,the university had issued an office memorandum to these 10 students to call off their dharna and remove entire makeshift structure from in front of the V-C’s residence. “The university has also informed the guardians of these students about their activities. We also tried to talk to them on phone but failed,” the proctor said.