Tension gripped the Kakatiya University campus after a group of students indulged in violence over non-availability of food at the hostel mess here on Friday.
Perturbed at the sudden developments, the Registrar, M. V. Ranga Rao ordered closure of all the hostels indefinitely and suspension of classes. He also issued orders cancelling all the ongoing PG semester examinations.
The students damaged furniture at the hostel director’s office and smashed the windowpanes of the car belonging to university college vice-principal K. Damodar Rao. They also ransacked the principal’s chamber.
Mr. Damodar Rao told The Hindu that a group of slogan-shouting students marched towards his office and started hurling stones at the office and his car. Later, they went on hurling stones which, however, missed the employees on duty. They then targeted the principal’s chamber.
“I thought they had come to make a representation. But they went on the rampage, catching me by surprise. I am shocked at their behaviour,” he explained. According to some students, some of those residing at Prataparudra Hostel could not get good as many non-boarders consumed it.
100 students arrested
The officials brought the issue to the notice of in charge Vice-Chancellor Prof. Veera Reddy, the V-C of Satavahana University. He directed the officials to lodge a complaint in the police station immediately. Police later picked up about 100 students from the campus. Sources said cases were registered against at least 20 students holding them responsible for the violence.
Officials at the principal’s office said the students were not on good terms with the contractor supplying food at the hostel. The contractor was changed but still the students were not satisfied. “The students made unreasonable demands to the contractor. In the absence of authority, the students are behaving very rudely and turning violent for no reason,” a senior employee said.
The leaders of the KU Employees JAC condemned the violence at an emergency meeting of the employees JAC.
