The Hindu : ABVP activists turn violent at CET Cell

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

ABVP activists turn violent at CET Cell

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE JULY 10. The agitation staged by Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists, demanding compensation from the Government to the general merit students in admission to unaided colleges, turned violent here on Thursday. At least 12 policemen were injured when the ABVP activists started throwing stones on the CET Cell premises at Malleswaram. More than 35 activists suffered minor injuries when police lathicharged the protesters who stormed the Cell premises on the first day of the counselling for the physically-challenged students.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Syed Ulfat Hussain, told The Hindu that 300 of the 800 ABVP activists who were staging a dharna suddenly jumped the compound and tried to barge into the office at around 1 p.m.

While police were trying to evict them, the others broke open the compound gate, entered the premises, and started throwing stones, Mr. Hussain said.

They hurled stones at policemen and at the building. While 12 policemen were injured, seven windowpanes were shattered.

However, the students and their parents, who had come for counselling, escaped unscathed. Computers and documents at the CET Cell were untouched, the police official said.

As the agitation turned violent, police resorted to lathicharge and dispersed the mob. More than 200 ABVP activists were arrested on charges of rioting.

The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, D.H. Shankara Murthy, and the BJP legislators, A. Ramdas and K. Balakrishna Bhat, addressed the protesters. The ABVP South India organising secretary, K.S. Raghunandan, its State organising secretary, Ravi Kumar, and the State secretary, Vishwanath Pai, led the agitation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Raghunandan accused the police of assaulting innocent students who were staging a peaceful dharna on Mr. Hussain's order.

The injured students have been admitted to the K.C. General Hospital and Maruthi Nursing Home in Malleswaram and Ganesh Nursing Home near Mehkri Circle.

Mr. Raghunandan said the ABVP activists were lathicharged at Bellary and Hubli. "Our agitation is aimed at helping students who are finding it difficult to afford engineering, medical, and dental education in the wake of the recent fee hike," he said.

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