Miscreants burn MSU staircase

VADODARA, Aug 5: In an unprecedented act of vandalism, some unidentified miscreants burnt a part of the wooden staircase at the Department of English, Faculty of Arts, at M S University late on Wednesday night. University officials lodged a complaint with the Sayajigunj police station on Thursday.

Faculty dean Maya Shah said, 8220;Securitymen were around in the faculty till 11 pm. It8217;s only after that the arson occurred. Though the whole staircase has not been burnt, it will be difficult to access the higher floor.8221; Though university officials have not named anyone in the FIR, the needle of suspicion is reportedly hovering around some students who were not given admission recently. Police sources said that the investigations were progressing in that direction as well. 8220;But what will be the clincher is an eye-witness, which is what we have been missing so far8221;, sources added.

According to university professors, the damage would have been much less if the fire brigade had been informed on time. 8220;The evidence indicates the fire was triggered by a burning tyre left beneath the staircase8221;, said Shah.

Talking about the incident, senior teacher of the department U Nanavati said, 8220;It was shocking sight to see for all of us when we reached the department on Thursday morning.8221; The Baroda University Teachers8217; Association BUTA, meanwhile, has decided to hold a meeting on Friday at the faculty to discuss measures that could be taken to check the vandalism and arson in the campus.