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The meeting of the Dean of faculties, Principals of Colleges, Directors of Centres and Chairmen of departments of studies held yesterday at 4:00 pm which unanimously endorsed the decision of the University closure. The members suggested the formation of a Crisis Management Committee and a Monitoring Committee to address the issue of re-opening of the University. It was felt that while re-opening the University the medical and engineering faculties should be given a priority. Research Scholars engaged in sensitive experiments can stay outside and be allowed to work on the recommendation and responsibility of the supervisors. It was emphasized that strict action be taken against the handful of students who have created a situation of anarchy and turbulence forcing the closure of the University. The members stressed that under no circumstances the University should entertain the unreasonable and irrational demands of resignation of the Proctor, DSW and the Vice Chancellor. The DSW and the Proctor had reported that by 6:00 pm all the students had left for their homes. The University arranged 40 buses and three special trains and special bogies in some of the trains to facilitate their trouble free travel. The Vice Chancellor assured that the University will be re-opened at the earliest provided a conducive environment is created. “The closure of the University was very painful decision and it was unanimously decided in the meeting of Deans, Principals and Senior Faculty Members of the University”, said Professor P.K. Abdul Azis. The decision was taken to prevent the nefarious designs of the anti-social elements and safeguard the interest of the University, he added. Apprising the senior faculty members of the details of the sequence of events that took place after the killing of the student, Professor Azis said that a conspiracy was hatched to destabilize the administration as a handful of students raised certain demands which were in no way related to the killing. The Vice Chancellor explained that a group of senior teachers led by Professor M. Saleemuddin tried to persuade the students not to block the railway track. A number of anti-social elements and rusticated students joined the protest. A handful of students staged a Dharna and used highly abusive language against the teachers. Professor Ziauddin Khairuwala, as a chief negotiator tried to initiate dialogue with the students but rigid posture adopted by one student derailed the efforts to strike a solution. While the majority of the University students were busy in attending classes a false rumor of the death of a student was spread to provoke the students and force them to join the agitation. The students sitting on fast refused even to take medicine and the apprehension of deterioration of health and the consequential threat of violence led to the painful decision of closure. Professor P.K. Abdul Azis pointed out that he has not received their signed Charter of Demands even to this date. The unexpected closure deeply hurt the academic resurgence drive set in motion by the University. The Vice Chancellor said that opening of the University is an easy task but to preserve values and traditions is an uphill task and he asked the teachers to evolve a strategy to strengthen value system so that the frequent violent spells in the campus could be put to an end for all the time to come.
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