Agitating SFI activists' baton charged in University campus

Shimla, Aug 1 (UNI) The Students Federation of India (SFI) today accused the Himachal Pradesh police officials of baton charging their activists in the university campus, while they were talking to the chief warden.

''The police officials entered the chief warden's office, while our activists were holding discussion with him on providing hostel accommodation to girl students, and baton charged the activists,'' University's Students Central Association (SCA) president Vikram told UNI over the telephone from the campus.

The SFI activists were holding discussion with the chief warden over allotment of hostel to about 100 girl students who had been denied hostels on the plea that the administration had changed rules for providing hostels.

Students who had already completed a master's course would not be eligible for hostel accommodation for another master's course according to the new rules framed by the University.

Mr Vikram accused the police officials of manhandling the female students and said 15 of their activists, including four girl students, were injured in the incident.

Cases have also been registered against several Federation activists, he said.

He said SFI campus unit has decided to launch an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow against the university authorities for their failure to prevent HP CPMT paper leak besides other issues of student interest.

Besides, activists would hold rallies and demonstrations in all colleges of the state tomorrow, besides burning the University Vice Chancellor's effigy on Thursday, he said.

Meanwhile, the Shimla district police today denied any baton charge on the students, saying they had only entered the chief warden's room at his request to prevent things from getting out of hand.

UNI AS HS MSJ KP1934