Prof's death: Cong calls MP bandh on Teachers' Day

Bhopal, Sep 4 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee has called a statewide 'bandh', coinciding with Teachers' Day tomorrow, in support of the demands including a CBI inquiry into the August 26 death of Prof Harbhajan Singh Sabharwal who was attacked by students irked over postponement of union polls at Ujjain.

Several political parties has lent support to the agitation and the government has issued directives to all district's administration to take precautions.

State Congress president Subhash Yadav and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jamuna Devi appealed to workers and the public to make the 'bandh' a success.

''The agitation will be peaceful,'' Mr Yadav said.

Meanwhile, Bhopal's SP Anant Kumar Singh said mobile teams were formed for patrolling the city. ''An additional force has been stationed at the control room,'' he added.

Youth Congress workers sporting black headbands took out a silent procession here today. Several organisations have said that this year's Teachers' Day should be observed as a black day.

A UNI report from Ujjain said accused Vimal Tomar, ABVP's state Secretary (Organisation), was remanded to 14 days' judicial custody. Tomar was presented before Judicial Magistrate R C Madia by the CID after two days' police remand. On September 2, ABVP state president Shashiranjan Akela was also remanded to 14 days' judicial custody.

On August 26, another professor M L Nath's face was blackened and the college and its surroundings were extensively damaged.

ABVP Secretary (Organisation) Sunil Ambedkar today removed Tomar and Akela from their respective posts. Mr Ambedkar and Secretary Vishnudutt Sharma told reporters here that the action was taken following an appeal by the accused that they be relieved of their responsibilites until proven innocent.

Expressing grief over the professor's demise, Mr Ambedkar and Mr Sharma said the ABVP was being sullied due to political pressure but admitted that Tomar used unparliamentary language.

When questioned on the propriety of an ABVP hunger strike in front of the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence, Mr Ambedkar said, ''We enjoy the right to protest against harassment of ABVP workers. I appeal to teachers not to observe Teachers' Day as a black day. I demand Governor Balram Jakhar initiate action against vice-chancellors accused of corruption and wantonness.'' He accused the Madhav College Principal of cancelling the election process due to political vendetta.

UNI Team-AC AK RS1914