Denied access to HAU hostel mess, girl students hold protest

Tensions escalated at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) on Saturday evening as female students protested after being denied access to their hostel mess and barred from entering their hostel rooms.

In response, the students staged a sit-in protest outside the hostel gates, chanting slogans against the Vice-Chancellor and asserting that "dictatorial" behavior would not be tolerated. They called for intervention from the Haryana State Commission for Women, expressing concern over young women being forced to remain on the streets at night.

University authorities had closed the mess services for the students on strike on Thursday, prompting them to set up a makeshift kitchen near Gate No.1.

Former HAU student leaders, including Vijender Sharma, Anil Bhatti, Rajkumar Bhola, Kulbir Duhan, Mahipal, and Dr Ramesh Punia, joined the protest in solidarity. Sharma accused the Vice-Chancellor of "using low tactics to save his chair" and demanded an investigation into his tenure, citing alleged financial irregularities. The group appealed to the Chief Minister for an impartial inquiry.