Kashmiri student`s suicide: EFLU students to continue protests

A showdown is likely between authorities of English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) and students Monday as latter are determined to continue their protests over suicide of Kashmiri student.

Hyderabad: A showdown is likely between authorities of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) and the students Monday as the latter are determined to continue their protests over the suicide of a Kashmiri student. Seeking suspension of the proctor and compensation for the family of the deceased, various student groups are planning to continue their protests Monday even as the vice-chancellor has threatened to call police and even shut down the university.

No classes could be conducted during the last week with the students continuing protests over the suicide of Mudassir Kamran on March 2. The 29-year-old PhD student, a native of Pulwama district of Kashmir, was found hanging in his hostel room on the EFLU campus. Police initially said the mental depression due to quarrel with his roommate Vasim Salim drove him to suicide but on a complaint by some students booked proctor Harish Vijra for abetting the suicide. Three days later, the police revealed that Kamran was in "love" with his roommate and had even made several physical advances. Annoyed over this, Vasim had shifted to another room and had complained to university authorities, police said. Students` organisations, however, blame the proctor, saying he called Kamran "insane" and took the issue to police instead of solving it in the university. "Kamran felt humiliated as he was called to the police station," Srinivas, a classmate of the Kashmiri student, told IANS. Banners and posters contradicting the police claims and condemning the attitude of university authorities have come up on the campus. "Kamran was not homosexual" says one such poster. "Arrest and suspend Vijra" is the slogan written on another poster. Foreign students are also supporting the ongoing protest. "Our demands are justified. The university should pay compensation to Kamran`s family," an Afghan student, who did not wish to be named, told IANS. Vice-Chancellor Sunaina Singh has threatened to call police to the campus if the protests are not stopped from Monday. She has even warned the protestors of shutting down the university. Interestingly, a section of teachers have pledged support to the agitation and have made it clear that they would not conduct classes in the presence of police. The university authorities have rejected the demands for the proctor`s suspension and for compensation to Kamran`s family. The students` groups Saturday evening organized a protest meet on the campus, which was addressed by civil liberties activists, who demanded judicial probe into the suicide. Karman`s suicide has triggered large-scale protests in his home district and other parts of Kashmir with his family members and Kashmiri groups alleging that police was harassing him for participating in a protest at EFLU over the hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. IANS