Stopped from self-immolation, AU student leaders pelt stones at V-C office

Two student leaders, Ajeet Yadav and Avinash Dubey, and their supporters resorted to stone-pelting at the office of the vice-chancellor (V-C) of Allahabad University (AU) after the police prevented them from their alleged bid to self-immolate here on Friday.

The leaders were challenging their rustication from AU in connection with beating up of the personal assistant (PA) of the V-C and a security supervisor on February 2.

According to university officials, the duo reached the V-C's office around 12.30 pm, where they poured kerosene over themselves but were quickly prevented by the police from setting themselves on fire.

They then resorted to stone pelting. Soon, the matter was brought under control and they began protesting outside the building of the AU Students' Union (AUSU).

Apart from Ajeet and Avinash, AUSU president Dinesh Singh Yadav was among the three to be expelled on February 6, in connection with the February 2 incident. The vice-president of AUSU, Shalu Yadav, too was suspended as she too was present when the V-C's PA, N P Nirala, was assaulted.

Chief Proctor Prof Mata Amber Tiwari said, "The two student leaders had joined another student, Imran Ansari, in protesting against the expulsion of the three. We had already informed that the V-C was out of station till March 6. Still, they resorted to such tactics to create pressure. Their supporters forcibly got the counters at the V-C's office closed and also broke some window panes. We are making an effort to contact the V-C. So far, no action has been taken and no formal complaint has been made to the police."

Imran, a student of Arabic and Persian Studies, had been expelled from AU following the January 17 incident, in which the V-C was allegedly manhandled.

AU sources said that the annual examinations were to begin on March 5 and the student leaders in question wanted to put pressure on the authorities concerned to re-admit them and allow them to appear in the examinations.

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