Expectations that a Syndicate meet of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) held here on Wednesday might propose stringent disciplinary action against B. Tech students involved in recent incidents of campus violence have been belied.
Vice Chancellor in-charge R. Sasidharan told The Hindu after the meeting that he was yet to receive the report prepared by an inquiry committee that probed the violence involving rival student groups on the main campus at Thrikkakara on January 14.
The varsity authorities had claimed on January 16 that the committee was expected to submit a report within a week.
Asked as to why no action was taken against the 18 students (against whom the Kalamassery police had registered a case of attempt to murder) even after a month of the incident, Prof. Sasidharan said one student had been suspended in connection with the clashes that erupted after the conduct of a management programme. The police had also slapped cases against 40 others allegedly involved in the clash.
The varsity had not even constituted a committee to probe the violence that occurred on the campus on February 5 involving members of the Students Federation of India, Kerala Students Union, and a group known as Malabaris. The police had registered cases against 50 students in connection with the incident. Prof. Sasidharan said the varsity security officer had been asked to furnish a report. “But we cannot act in haste without conducting a proper inquiry into who all are involved. Moreover, the police had already initiated action against those involved,” he said.
Security threat
Terming the open road access to the campus as a major security threat, Prof. Sasidharan said it had been helping anti-social elements get involved in nefarious activities inside the campus and go scot-free. “We have brought this issue to the notice of the government,” he said.
Meanwhile, classes at the School of Engineering resumed on Wednesday. They were suspended following the February 5 clashes. The authorities had convened a meeting involving police officers, officials in charge of hostels, and representatives of student organisations to ensure peace on the campus.