Inquiry ordered into Jamia violence ; Students on hunger strike

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) Jamia Millia Islamia University Vice- Chancellor Mushirul Hassan today set up a one-man inquiry commission to probe the violent incidents on the campus as students started a relay hunger strike in protest against the alleged attack on them by varsity officials.

Prof Hassan appointed Justice (Retd) S K Aggarwal to probe the July 18 violence following which the university was closed sine die yesterday.

However, the Jamia Students Union opposed the inquiry commission, saying ''the perpetrators of violence cannot order a probe and an independent body should look into the matter''.

Six students, including injured Students' Union President Shams Pervez, started the 48-hour hunger strike and said they will appeal to the Government to intervene.

A delegation of students will call on Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh and present their six-point charter of demands which includes the Vice-Chancellor's resignation, police action against the Proctor and his son, withdrawal of sine die closure of the university and admission to rejected students.

''We urge the UPA government to take a note of the prevailing situation in Jamia. We will present a our demands and if they are not met with the fast will be indefinite,'' Jamia Students Union leader Satyaprakash Mishra said.

He said the students will also approach UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi with their charter of demands.

About the Inquiry Commission, Mr Mishra said it was ''unacceptable'' to the students.

''The Vice Chancellor, Proctor Rocket Ibrahim and his son Ejaz were all responsible for the attack on Students Union president Shams Pervez and two other students. How can they appoint an inquiry committee?'' he said.

He said an independent body must probe the incident so that the truth is brought to the fore.

Violence broke out on the campus on Tuesday after Mr Pervez and some other students alleged that University staff, including the Proctor, his son Ejaz and some unidentified people attacked them when they tried to meet the Vice-Chancellor regarding denial of admission to them.

They also alleged that they were beaten up in the Vice Chancellor's presence.

Mr Pervez and two other students were admitted to hospital with serious injuries. Following the incident students reportedly went on the rampage and damaged Jamia property and some vehicles on July 18.

Prof Hassan has denied all the allegations as baseless and said admission was denied to ''40-odd miscreants''.

Yesterday the institute was closed indefinitely as a precautionary measure after violence on the campus.

The vice-chancellor also issued orders to students to vacate the hostels within the next 48 hours otherwise their claim to a room would not be considered.

Police and Rapid Action Force have been deployed in large numbers following tension on the campus. Angry students held demonstrations in the campus today.

The Jamia Students got support from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). JNU Students' Union President Mona Das said JNU students were with their peers at Jamia for their fight for justice.

The Jamia students also claimed that students' unions of the Delhi University and te Aligarh Muslim University were supporting them.

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