Three guards booked for hitting students after they climb up water tank at MP university

Police have also registered a non-cognisable case against four students from Kerala on charge of causing hurt.

The committee submitted its report (the copy of which is available with The Indian Express) on February 3 in favour of the selected candidates.

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Three security guards have been booked for allegedly assaulting four students of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) in Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh’s Anuppur district.

The incident took place around 6pm on Friday on the university premises after the four students from Kerala allegedly climbed up a 40-50-ft-high water tank to take selfies while celebrating Holi.

Attacks on Keralite students at @IGNTU are appalling & highlight the need to resist the growing hostility towards individuals based on their identities in our country. The university must take prompt action against the culprits & ensure the safety of all the students on campus.

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) March 12, 2023

“The water tank is a restricted area and a security guard who spotted them up there asked for their identity cards so that he could report the matter to the university authorities. The guard claimed that they had refused to show the identity cards, leading to an argument. The guard then got aggressive and there ensued a heated exchange of words, which led to a physical fight. Two more guards joined in and slapped the students. One of the guards claims one of the students twisted his hand,” said a police officer from Anuppur.

After the incident the students went to the university’s dispensary and then to a government hospital but did not approach police, according to the officer. The security guards approached the police and got their medical examination done.

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The students, however, complained to police on Sunday and got an FIR registered under sections 323 (causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code against the guards, who are contractual employees of a security agency engaged by the university.

The FIR was registered after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for action. “Attacks on Keralite students at @IGNTU are appalling & highlight the need to resist the growing hostility towards individuals based on their identities in our country. The university must take prompt action against the culprits & ensure the safety of all the students on campus,” Vijayan tweeted.

“No cross FIR has been registered against the students, but a non-cognisable case has been registered against the students under section 323 (causing hurt),” the police officer said.

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Madhya Pradesh