GUNTUR:Tension prevailed on the Acharya Nagarjuna University campus near here on Thursday, following clashes between two groups of students over the suspension of B Arch College principal G Babu Rao during an open inquiry over the ‘suicide of B Arch first year student M Rushikeswari due to alleged ragging by seniors’.
Following allegations against the college principal, on Thursday evening technical education commissioner B Udayalakshmi issued oral orders suspending Babu Rao. When the news reached the architecture college, students who were in favour of the college principal, rushed to the place where the fact-finding committee convened by the university was conducting an open inquiry. They demanded revocation of the suspension order.
Some architecture students argued that following the incident, no classes were taking place properly and they were losing valuable time. Stating that it is difficult to find an experienced principal, they wondered why he was being dragged into the issue. However, other students of the university and representatives of student organisations wanted the principal suspended and a judicial inquiry conducted into the incident.
They alleged that college principal Babu Rao had been encouraging late night parties and had even participated in some. They claimed to have evidence of it. Both groups of students started raising slogans and a heated arguments ensued. In no time, it escalated and some even exchanged blows. On being alerted, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. They asked both parties to give a written complaint.
Meanwhile, the 12-member fact-finding committee returned without conducting the inquiry. Vice-Chancellor K Sambasiva Rao said the inquiry has been postponed following the incident and they will announce the date and time of the inquiry later. He confirmed the suspension of the Architecture College principal.
Following the suicide of M Rushikeswari, who was pursuing first year B Arch at ANU, three architecture (II year) students - Hanisha, Jaicharan and Srinivas - were arrested and police are investigating the case.
In the suicide note, Rushikeswari had complained that her senior Hanisha and two other accused were behaving abnormally. When she complained to her father, M Muralikrishna, some 10 days before the incident, he had rushed to the varsity and lodged a written complaint with the college principal. Though he wanted to lodge a police complaint, he was requested not to do so by the college management, who assured him of necessary action.