Deadline ends, NU set to evict outsiders at hostel

Nagpur: Friday could see some tense moments at lower hostel on Amravati Road as the Nagpur University's deadline to illegal occupants came to an end on Thursday but still many squatters were still occupying the poorly guarded property.

This time the NU looks serious as it deployed two jawans and started restricted entry of outsiders at the hostel soon after putting up the notice on October 5.

Last week, the Students Welfare Department had put up the notice warning of legal action if illegal occupants fail to vacate the rooms by October 12.

On Friday, the NU will deploy more Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC) guards to evict the illegal occupants.

Warden Prakash Shedmake said officials will start checking rooms at 11am. "A list of allotted rooms has been prepared and we will check who is staying there. Unauthorized persons will be asked to leave. If they refuse, the MSSC guards will evict them," he said.

TOI has been highlighting the issue since the last couple of months. Though the NU has long turned a blind eye towards the menace as well as maintenance of the dilapidated hostel buildings, it was forced to wake up from slumber after freshers complained of being bullied by ex-students. Following the complaints, the university was trying hard to get the hostels vacated since June without success.

Considering the sensitivity of the issue, the NU had been patiently pursuing the issue with the hostel occupants since July. Many inmates, who had been allowed to stay after the annual deadline of April 30, had refused to leave till June. Though the NU had warned of police action, it didn't act to give some more time to them and chalk out a better plan.