Allahabad University students dig pit, threaten to bury themselves over fee hike: Watch

Some of the students jumped into the five-foot pit near the protest site on the university premises and policemen had to pull them out.

Image source: Twitter

Prayagraj: Allahabad University students demonstrating against a fee hike on Tuesday threatened to take "bhu samadhi" by burying themselves in a pit they dug at their protest site here. Some of them jumped into the five-foot pit near the protest site on the university premises and policemen had to pull them out, the police said. Additional police force was also summoned. The students said their fees have been hiked nearly three-fold, and have been holding protests for several days now. They later planted saplings in the pit.

#भूमिसमाधि
इलाहाबाद विश्वविद्यालय में 400% फीस वृद्धि को लेकर आज 22वां दिन।
छात्र छात्राओं द्वारा आमरण-अनशन जारी है।
जब तक सरकार और यूजीसी की आंख कान नही खुल जाती फीस वृद्धि वापस नहीं ले लेते तब तक आंदोलन चलता रहेगा।#इलाहाबाद_विश्वविद्यालय #फीस_वृद्धि_वापस_लो @yadavakhilesh pic.twitter.com/qWTQgq2ijE

— SHIVA इलाहाबादी (@AsheeshYadav01) September 27, 2022

Adarsh Singh Bhadauria, a student associated with the National Students' Union of India, said they were ready to end their lives to protest the fee hike, but the university administration was firm on its stand of not withdrawing the increment. Students affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have apprised the chancellor of Allahabad University about the ongoing agitation through postcards.

#संघर्ष_जारी_था_जारी_है_जारी_रहेगा
इलाहाबाद विश्वविद्यालय मे 400% फीस वृद्धि के विरोध मे हम #भू_समाधि लेने जा रहे थे तभी पुलिस द्वारा बल पूर्वक दमन किया गया

पुलिस के दम पर गुंडागर्दी नहीं चलेगी #फीस_वृद्धि_वापस_लो #अराफात_खान_छात्रनेता_इलाहाबाद_विश्वविद्यालय @yadavakhilesh pic.twitter.com/d3P4fIHtCK

— Arafaat khan عرفات خان (@arafat_khan0731) September 27, 2022

In a letter, they said a 300-per cent fee hike has been effected unethically by the university administration, due to which many students would be deprived of education and a request has been made to withdraw it. ABVP state convener (sports activity) Kartikeya Pati Tripathi said, "Our fight is with the dictatorial vice-chancellor of Allahabad University because their decision (fee hike) is tarnishing the image of the central and the state government."

"I want the government to take Suo moto cognizance of this matter and issue a direction to withdraw the fee hike," he said.
One of the protesting students, Satyam Kushwaha said using the force of police and administration, efforts are being made to crush the student's movement. But, the students are not going to be feared by the use of force.

He also said girl students were also involved in the protest over the fee hike, but they were not allowed to move out of the hostel.

The fee of Allahabad University for under-graduate courses, which was Rs 975 per year, has been increased to Rs 4,151 per year (by 300 per cent). Students are protesting against the fee hike for the past 16 days demanding that the fee hike be rolled back.

Allahabad University spokesperson Jaya Kapoor said the increased fee will apply to students who take admission in the undergraduate courses, and the old fee structure will remain applicable for the old students.

(With PTI inputs)