Scuffle breaks out between police, SFI activists at Sanjauli college

A scuffle broke out between the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) activists and police personnel during a protest against the rustication of six students at the Centre of Excellence, Government Post Graduate College, Sanjauli.

Hundreds of SFI activists gathered outside the college today and raised slogans against the college authorities. The activists demanded immediate revocation of the rustication of the students. SFI’s college unit president Pravesh said the college administration expelled six student leaders last week due to political animosity.

He said the student leaders had demanded strict action against the student who allegedly molested a girl student of the college on Thursday, last week.

“The SFI had called for a protest on the college campus, demanding strict action against the accused. But, the college administration tried to refrain the students from practising their democratic right of holding a protest,” he said.

He alleged that instead of taking action against the accused, who molested a student, the college administration had taken action against the SFI workers due to animosity.

“The administration is trying to suppress the matter. The SFI activists, studying in Sanjauli college, are being prevented from entering the college campus,” he said.

SFI’s district committee secretary Kamal, who was also present during the protest, said the college administration was pressurising the students to not to participate in any kind of protest. We have been raising our voice against the increasing cases of sexual harassment,” he said.

The SFI has warned that it will continue to hold protest until the students are not reinstated.

Meanwhile, Principal Bharti Bhagra said all allegations of the SFI activists were baseless and no case of sexual harassment was reported. She said the girl had complained about a student spreading rumours against her. “We then called the student, who apologised to her, and the matter was sorted out. However, the SFI activists misbehaved with me and claimed that the administration did not took any action in this matter. They also misbehaved with an officiating teacher and claimed that they wanted to stage a protest for which the permission was denied. The activists resorted to misconduct and foul language,” she said.

“They are students, but their behaviour is acceptable. We lodged an FIR against them,” said the Principal. She added that the rusticated students will not be reinstated.