Kashmir varsity recognises new students' body

As the tussle and protests over recognition of the Kashmir University Students Association (KUSU) show no sign of dying down, the varsity authorities have recognized a separate students’ body and is in the process to structure it. Fearing protests, the authorities are maintaining stringent vigil over students with the help of more than a dozen wireless sets on the campus.

“The Dean Students Welfare formed a students’ body named Students Welfare Forum (SWF), comprised of class representatives from all departments. These representatives, who have been elected through a voting process, will be part of the new students’ body,” said KU Chief Proctor Afzal Zargar, adding “the process is on to structure the body”.

The campus witnessed protests since last week after the authorities dismantled once-recognised KUSU office following an imposition of a ban. The students are protesting for revocation of the ban.

“No ban revocation orders have reached to us so far,” said Zaragar.

The Chief Proctor, however, said the SWF will be allowed to raise basic issues of students. “We want to give voice to the students. The new body will do that. It will raise their issues about amenities, like dog menace on the campus and other basic issues,” he added.

But the pro-KUSU students accuse the authorities of harassment and spying. “The Proctorial office staff has been handed over with wireless sets. They maintain a constant vigil if there is gathering of students. We have to play hide and seek with the authorities to organize press conferences and to organize protests,” said a KUSU member, requesting not to be named.

The authorities deny the allegations leveled by the students. “The proctorial office is short of staff. So to maintain coordination and increase efficiency, we have been using wireless sets for the past several years,” said the Chief Proctor.

He, however, added that the facility could be used to maintain law and order and ensure discipline on the campus. The varsity has 16 wireless sets functioning on the campus.

“The raids by the police and Proctorial staff were aimed to harass those students who are demanding revocation of ban on the students union,” said a student on the condition of anonymity.

The students, who held a meeting on Tuesday, claimed the police and the University’s watch and ward staff were raiding the hostel at regular intervals now.

However, the authorities refute the allegations. “A police party came to us and said they have to search the boys’ hostel to ensure secure movement of a visiting VVIPs on Saturday evening,” said Zargar, Kashmir University’s chief proctor.

The police also described the raid as routine drive.

The students at Kashmir University are protesting against the banning of the students union.