After attack on pro-VC, Bihar university arms its staff with sticks

Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University (BNMU) in northeast Bihar’s Madhepura district has armed its employees with sticks to deal with trouble mongers on the campus.

The university on Thursday purchased about 60 sticks and distributed them among its staff on the “verbal directive” of registrar Col Neeraj Kumar.

Col Kumar, who is among retired army officers appointed registrars in 10 of the 12 Bihar universities, issued the directive following attack on the BNMU pro-vice chancellor, allegedly by some students, on Tuesday.

Justifying the directive, Col Kumar said it was aimed to protect university staff as “their life is precious”. He also expressed deep concern over serious security lapses on the campus.

The registrar, however, assured the students of solving all their problems if they met him in a “disciplined way”.

BNMU vice chancellor (VC) Avadh Kishore Roy said the directive was a result of the “registrar’s anger” at the attack of the pro VC and nothing else.

“We are committed to overhauling the functioning of the university in the interest of students and the registrar has issued the order in the same spirit,” Roy said.

“Meanwhile, we have stopped the interviews to constitute a panel of contractual staff. It will start after the Independence Day,” he added.

Sonu Yadav, a student leader, however, warned the BNMU authorities with serious repercussions. “We are living in democratic nation and not in a country ruled by military. We will not tolerate such orders.

Another student leader Rahul Yadav said: “We know how to give a befitting reply to lathis (sticks) and abuses.”

The trouble started on Tuesday when some students were involved in altercation with pro-VC Farooque Ali when the interview was in progress to prepare a panel of drivers and computer operators to be hired by the university on contract. The students levelled serious allegations over the recruitment process and demanded “absolute transparency” in it.

Taking strong note of the incident, the university lodged an FIR against 25 students (six named and 19 unknown) at the town police station in Madhepura town, 283 km northeast of state capital Patna.

Later, the students raised their voice against the “highhandedness” of the university and demanded immediate withdrawal of the FIR.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times