Tension Prevails In Allahabad University After Death Of Student

Students blocked the main gate of the Allahabad University after the death of a student on campus (Photo: IANS)

The Allahabad University (AU) was besieged with tensions following the death of a student after drinking water on campus. The incident happened two days ago, when a student died after consuming water from a water cooler near the Students’ Union building of the university.

After hundreds of students went on the rampage, additional forces have been deployed on campus. The students staged a violent protest on Wednesday, damaging properties and even misbehaving with some female teachers. Among the demands of the students were the registration of an FIR against the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, DSW and proctor; they also sought the resignations of these office-bearers and compensation for the family of the deceased.

Students allege that after attending his class, 22-year-old Ashutosh Dubey, a student of B.A. final year, went to drink water at the water cooler which was installed neat the building of the students’ union at the Arts Faculty.

However, Dubey collapsed while drinking water; he was rushed to the SRN Hospital where he was declared ‘brought dead’.

The students claimed that they had to take Dubey to the hospital in an e-rickshaw because AU authorities failed to provide an ambulance on time. They also alleged that security personnel at the university did not allow the e-rickshaw to enter the campus.

Meanwhile, Dubey’s father has filed a complaint at the Colonelganj police station against the Allahabad University administration. Angry students, accompanied by student leaders went to various departments and forcefully closed them. They also blocked the busy Motilala Nehru Road and banned entry and exit from AU by restricting the library gate of the Arts Campus.

Some students also engaged in a heated argument with the proctor and his team at the proctor’s office. Students broke earthen pots and furniture at the Sanskrit department. They also allegedly manhandled and abused some women teachers of the department. They also damaged glass pane of doors and almirahs in the Central Library. Videos of their violent behaviour surfaced on social media platforms as well.

Reports say that the protesting students were accompanied by the father of the deceased. After the police accepted the application of Dubey’s father, the agitation died down. In the application, he held Shanti Sunderam, Dean, Student Welfare, and Rakesh Singh, Proctor responsible for the death of his son.

Police have assured that they will register a complaint on the basis of the application. However, Jaya Kapoor, AU Public Relations Office, denied all the charges and said there was no negligence on the part of the university in the sequence of events and that an ambulance was dispatched immediately after information was received that Ashutosh Dubey had collapsed after drinking water.