Prof beaten up for ‘forcing’ challenged student to quit : Allahbad ( UP )

Students from a hostel of Allahabad University (AU) brutally thrashed a senior professor for allegedlly forcing a physically challenged B.Tech student to withdraw his admission from the university.

The students also resorted to vandalism and attacked another professor.

They alleged that Prof R R Tiwari, head of J K Institute of Applied Sciences in the science faculty, "discouraged the student to the extent that he withdrew his name from the institute".

The AU authorities would be lodging a formal FIR by tonight.

On the other hand, the AU Teachers' Association gave 48-hour ultimatum for strong action against the culprits, failing which teachers would suspend work from Monday.

AU Chief Proctor Prof R K Upadhayaya said: "A group of students of Muslim Boarding House (an AU hostel) reached the J K Institute around 10.45 am. They went to the office of Prof R R Tiwari, pulled him out. He was then pushed to the ground, punched, kicked and hit with the butt of a firearm on his head. He has sustained injuries on his head and eyes. By the time the police arrived, the students had escaped."

The students also vandalised the chemistry department, overturned the furniture and broke some window panes.

Prof Tiwari was taken to Bailey Hospital from where he was referred to a private hospital.

"Another senior teacher, Prof C K Dwivedi, who was taking class in the science faculty, was also pushed down on the ground and beaten up," said another university official.

AU PRO Prof P K Sahu said the physically challenged student, Aftab Manzar, had met the Dean of Students Welfare (DSW), Prof Jagdamba Singh, and the Chief Proctor on Thursday.

"The student was assured of all possible help in taking his examination. Even the Vice-Chancellor had told him that a special provision would be made for him to take the examination separately. There was no reason for anybody to take law in their hands in such a manner," said Prof Sahu.

Asked whether the student has withdrawn his name from theinstitute, Prof Sahu said he was not aware of any such development.

However, Aftab said he faced such apathetic attitude from the institute head over the past few months that he decided to withdraw his admission from the university.

Aftab, who was born without hands, cracked the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination and got admission in B. Tech (Computer Science) at the J K Institute in August.

Son of Manzar Alam, who worked in agricultural fields and brick kilns, the youngster would often work using his feet. However, he was facing problems in the practicals. He wanted help for the same, which was allegedly denied by the authorities despite repeated requests.

Talking to The Indian Express over the phone on board a train to Patna, Aftab, who hails from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, said: "I had met the officials yesterday. There were some assurances. But the Institute Head always used to demoralise me. He used to tell me that there is no point seeking any special help. I was often told I would simply not be able to complete the course. I became so depressed that I decided to withdraw my name. I have got my migration certificate."

His father, who was with him, said: "My wife and I have been staying with Aftab for the past 10-12 days in P C Bannerjee Hostel, where he was allotted a seat. I had so much faith in AU. I dreamt that he would make the university proud. The Institute head should have looked at him with sympathy. But he always discouraged him. He was an intelligent child. We had not expected such treatment for my son."



Source : The Indian Express , 30th Nov 2013 




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Mob attacks Allahabad University HoD,vandalizes campus

Source : TOI ,  30th Nov 2013 

 Angered over alleged mistreatment to a differently-abled student, an angry mob of youths entered the Science faculty from the Muslim Boarding House (MBH) and reportedly manhandled the HoD (Electronics and Communication), JK Institute, of the Allahabad University Prof R R Tewari on Friday. When another senior faculty member came to Prof Tewari's rescue, he too was assaulted. The mob also damaged a highly sensitive CCTV installed at the entrance of the department.

Angered over the incident, the AU Teachers Association (AUTA) held an emergency meeting and gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the varsity and district administration for bringing the culprits to book. Failing which, the teachers would go on an indefinite fast from Monday, the AUTA threatened.

Reports said the mob, allegedly belonging to MB House, was angry over the issue related to a differently-abled student of the varsity's JK Institute, Aftab Alam. While the student leaders alleged that the department and varsity authorities were "conspiring" to force Aftab, who has both his hands amputated, to leave AU by discouraging him, the department authorities said that he himself wanted to leave AU as he was not able to perform practicals.

The student leaders were raising the issue for the past three days and all efforts by the varsity administration to pacify them had failed. Before things could be sorted out, Aftab left the city on Friday morning. "Seems like the students were agitated over Aftab's leaving the city for which they blamed the HoD," said a faculty member.

According to reports, the mob entered the department inquiring for Prof Tewari on Friday. When he came out of his room and introduced himself, the crowd confronted him with the issue. He even tried to pacify the youths and explained them about the facts he had forwarded to the varsity authorities on Thursday, the mob refused to listen and assaulted him. "They rained blows on the teacher and dragged him out of the department's stairs. His specs were damaged and he sustained injury on the back of his head," said university authorities.

Hearing the commotion, another senior faculty member of the department, Prof C K Dwivedi, tried to intervene but he too was reportedly manhandled by the mob. The mob also did not listen to proctor Prof R K Upadhyaya, who had by then arrived at the scene. The mob damaged the window panes of the notice board, window and furniture of the department. They even damaged a highly sensitive infra-red CCTV, worth over Rs 4.5 lakh, installed at the entrance of the department, eyewitnesses said.

By the time police, other faculty members and varsity employees reached the spot, the mob had escaped from the department. The teachers took Prof Tewari to Beli Hospital in the varsity ambulance where he was given first aid and a medical examination was conducted.

Later, an urgent meeting of AUTA was held in the Economics department to condemn the incident and the teachers even met the V-C and demanded strict action against the culprits. "AUTA condemns the incident. We have given an ultimatum of 48 hours to the varsity and district administration to put punish the culprits, failing which we would go on an indefinite fast from Monday," said AUTA president Prof Girish Tripathi.

Contacted, Proctor Prof R K Upadhayay said, "Such acts of assaulting a teaching faculty, or for that matter anyone on the campus, would not be tolerated and AU administration will lodge an FIR in this episode."

Talking to TOI, Prof R R Tewari said, "I introduced myself to the mob and even tried to talk to them, explaining the entire issue but they had come with a predetermined mind set and were not ready to hear anything."

In a press statement, the AU authorities said that "the drastic act of violence indulged in by anti-social elements against the HoD and another teacher of the department is condemned in strongest words by the AU administration. The university continues to adopt its policy of zero tolerance against incidents of such nature. In individual found to have been involved in the incident of today will be dealt with the sternest possible measures within the provisions and shall not hesitate in punishing anyone in future as well".