Postgraduate students of Mass Communication and Journalism of Mangalore University called off their 11-day-old agitation on Thursday following the transfer of M.P. Umeshchandra, a faculty member of the department, as Special Officer at the varsity’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Cell. The university authorities decided on transferring Mr. Umeshchandra after the postgraduate students of other departments at Mangalagangotri also boycotted their classes on Thursday, supporting the agitation by journalism students. Led by the students’ council of the university, the protestors blocked the Konaje-Pavoor Road in the forenoon. However, they withdrew their agitation after the university announced the transfer of the teacher by noon.
K. Chinnappa Gowda, Registrar (administration), said that the Syndicate in its special meeting on Wednesday, had given two options. It had directed Mr. Umeshchandra to refrain from taking classes until further orders and “advised” the agitating students to return to classes.Secondly, it had decided to transfer the teacher.However, rejecting the first option announced on Wednesday as unacceptable, students continued their stir on Thursday till the university announced the transfer orders. Santhosh Jochim, a student leader, told The Hindu that students would resume classes from Friday.