Certificate issue: BPUT board to consider RCM students’ demands

-- Action against cops for assaulting girls demanded

  

BHUBANESWAR: Finally after two and a half months struggle and indefinite strike of MBA and MCA students of the Regional College of Management Autonomous (RCMA), a committee of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) agreed to discuss the demands of the students in detail in its May 7 emergency board meeting. 

It was decided after a four-member delegation of the students met with Employment, Technical Education and Training (ETE&T) department Secretary C S Kumar here on Tuesday over their long standing demand to get original registration cards and degree certificates, denied to them by the college authorities so far.

Kumar said the process is on to solve the RCM certificate issue. “The BPUT governing body meeting will be held on May 7 where they will take decision in the matter,” he added.

According to a student Raza Quadir, the Secretary said they would inform the students about the outcome of the meeting on May 8, while the final decision will be taken on May 20. “If we don’t get a positive response from the officials, we will continue our demonstration in front of the Lower PMG till our demands are fulfilled,” said Quadir. 

Meanwhile, All India Democratic Students’ Organization (AIDSO) members have expressed solidarity with the RCMA students. 

Besides, another team of students also met Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharma regarding the police assault on the students at the Lower PMG here late on Monday night in which four girl students were seriously injured. 

According to reports, a group of RCMA students on Monday staged demonstration in front of the BPUT office at Gandamunda in the city from 11.30 am to 10 pm night demanding issuance of certificates in favour of them. When they failed to meet BPUT VC to discuss about the certificate issue, they didn’t give chance to some officers to go out of the office. To bring normalcy, the police forces swung into action and detained more than 20 students from the spot.

Later the police left the detainees at the Lower PMG. All of the sudden some irate students attacked police personnel asking for why they had detained their friends of no reason for which they have to react. In the clash two vehicles of police were damaged, the police sources added. While the students alleged that the male staff of the Commissionerate Police assaulted girl students without engaging women police. As many as 20 students were injured. “The cops have crossed the limit by assaulting the girls at night time. It was serious violation of human rights,” said human rights activists in the city. 

Seriously injured girl students were undergoing treatment in the Capital Hospital.