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LeT`s not be so ridiculous: The Pioneer
Women students of Maulana Azad Medical College do not like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) very much. Not because they raided the Red Fort or killed so many people, but because they got their library timings changed. And to their inconvenience. All thanks to two post-cards. The LeT allegedly despatched two post-cards to Medical Superintendent Dr Bharat Singh threatening that `beautiful` lady doctors, nurses and girl students on the campus would be kidnapped and taken to Saudi Arabia if they were seen
Women students of Maulana Azad Medical College do not like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) very much. Not because they raided the Red Fort or killed so many people, but because they got their library timings changed. And to their inconvenience. All thanks to two post-cards. The LeT allegedly despatched two post-cards to Medical Superintendent Dr Bharat Singh threatening that "beautiful" lady doctors, nurses and girl students on the campus would be kidnapped and taken to Saudi Arabia if they were seen loitering about in the evening hours. The post-cards were sent around August last year.
The college authorities got so scared that the library and hostel timings for the girl students were changed immediately. And the changed timings still stand. Neither the students nor the doctors on the campus are appreciative of the change, however. In fact, all are angry that the hospital authorities took the matter so seriously. Argued one student, "Anyone could have written the letter. Why did the management have to take it so seriously?" Another student said, "Why should restrictions be imposed only on the girl students? Can't there be an attack on boys, if at all?"
Recently retired Dean of the college, Dr Dinesh Chandra, confirmed that the post-cards were indeed received. "We contacted the police and they said that they would increase vigil on the campus. I myself saw that they became more vigilant." According to a Central district police official, the matter was brought to the notice of the IP Estate Police Station. "Though no formal complaint was lodged, following the information vigil was increased in the area. As of now no concrete evidence of the LeT being involved has emerged. However, in the backdrop of the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit and other related developments, the matter is being thoroughly investigated," he said. In fact, so hasty was the decision of the college authorities that they did not even think of whether the change in the library timings would benefit the students or not. Or, was there a threat at all?
A notice was put up outside the library informing the students of the change in library timings due to "security reasons". MBBS students require to study long hours into the night especially because of their hectic schedule through the day. Said one student on condition of anonymity, "The reading room is the only place on the campus where we can actually study till late at night."
"We live three in each room. With that arrangement, it is not possible to carry on individual studies because each has his or her own way and time of studying. Someone wants to sleep at one time, while another wants the light on. It is not possible to study in the same room."
The girls approached their warden to seek a relaxation in library timings. They were told to study in the visiting room of the hostel. The problem with that arrangement is that the visiting room and the TV room are separated by a very thin partition, making it impossible to study undisturbed.
But all pleas went unheeded in the face of the "threat" by the "LeT" and the girls somehow managed to study. In fact, the university exams were coming up around the same time. Also, the mid-year festival of the college, Resonance, was nearly scrapped as a result of the threat.
Recently retired Dean of the college, Dr Dinesh Chandra, confirmed that the post-cards were indeed received. "We contacted the police and they said that they would increase vigil on the campus. I myself saw that they became more vigilant." According to a Central district police official, the matter was brought to the notice of the IP Estate Police Station. "Though no formal complaint was lodged, following the information vigil was increased in the area. As of now no concrete evidence of the LeT being involved has emerged. However, in the backdrop of the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit and other related developments, the matter is being thoroughly investigated," he said. In fact, so hasty was the decision of the college authorities that they did not even think of whether the change in the library timings would benefit the students or not. Or, was there a threat at all?
A notice was put up outside the library informing the students of the change in library timings due to "security reasons". MBBS students require to study long hours into the night especially because of their hectic schedule through the day. Said one student on condition of anonymity, "The reading room is the only place on the campus where we can actually study till late at night."
"We live three in each room. With that arrangement, it is not possible to carry on individual studies because each has his or her own way and time of studying. Someone wants to sleep at one time, while another wants the light on. It is not possible to study in the same room."
The girls approached their warden to seek a relaxation in library timings. They were told to study in the visiting room of the hostel. The problem with that arrangement is that the visiting room and the TV room are separated by a very thin partition, making it impossible to study undisturbed.
But all pleas went unheeded in the face of the "threat" by the "LeT" and the girls somehow managed to study. In fact, the university exams were coming up around the same time. Also, the mid-year festival of the college, Resonance, was nearly scrapped as a result of the threat.