There’s an uneasy calm at the Vellor Institute of Technology (VIT) University near Bhopal, a day after hundreds of students vandalised campus properties, torched vehicles, and protested against the serving of unhygienic food and contaminated water on campus that led to a jaundice outbreak.
Police said more than 3,000 students at the campus in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district set fire to an ambulance, a bus, and at least three cars, besides vandalising hostels and the Chancellor’s residence after several students fell ill with jaundice due to alleged consumption of poor quality food and water.
The widespread anger and violent protests were triggered by around 33 students falling ill in the past one month, although students claim the number of those diagnosed with jaundice is at least 200.
Claims of three students dying were refuted by VIT Bhopal Registrar, K K Nair, who termed it a misinformation campaign against the university, and said one student had died of tuberculosis, and not jaundice.
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“A girl from Bilaspur (Chhatisgarh) had fallen ill and gone home on November 3. She passed away two days ago due to tuberculosis, which has been confirmed in her medical reports. Those making these claims have conveniently left out her illness and are presenting her death as linked to jaundice,” he said, adding that all 33 students admitted to the Chirayu Medical College and Hospital in Bhopal had been discharged.
Students, however, disagree with Nair’s claims, saying they had been complaining about poor quality food and water for over a month, but to no avail.
“There has been no transparency from the administration’s side about the issue, and the students are often threatened with disciplinary action that can jeopardise their careers. On Tuesday night as well, the senior students got aggressive after a faculty member thrashed a first year boy,” said a student of BTech final year, on condition of anonymity.
A senior police official present on campus also admitted to some security staff hitting a few students on Tuesday night when they were protesting.
Akash Amalkar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Ashta, said an FIR had been lodged against a warden, Prashant Kumar Pandey, and five other staff members for assault, based on a student’s complaint. The FIR has been lodged under Sections 190(2), 296 A, 115(2), 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
“We have received a video in which Mr. Pandey and some security staff members are seen beating up students. We have initiated legal action and will question them based on further investigation,” he said.
Meanwhile, classes have been suspended by the university administration and holidays declared until December 8, although Nair, insisted that vacating the campus was not a compulsion.
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