TUMKUR: The ongoing students’ protest against Tumkur University in view of the reduced intake took an ugly turn after eight students were injured in the police lathi charge here on Saturday.
The protest started on Friday when the students came to know that the number of seats were reduced for 13 postgraduation courses. They were staging a protest on the premises of the PG centre where the counselling process was underway for the second consecutive day. Hundreds of student activists along with the counselling participants had forced their way into the premises.
Tension gripped the varsity premises when some miscreants allegedly snatched the admission records and tore some sheets. They insisted that VC Dr SC Sharma meet them to settle the issues. As the agitators refused to budge, and the police had to resort to lathi charge.
Students, including girls, were seen running helter-skelter, being chased by the police. Student leader of SFI Ramesh and three other persons including the parents who had accompanied their wards for the counselling were arrested.
When the police managed to clear the scene, VC Dr Sharma visited the premises and held deliberations with the registrars and the PG centre director.
The VC later said there is no question of increasing the seats as he has to impart quality education to the students as per the UGC norms. "Those who are left out in the admission to the PG programmes may join the outreach programme, a distance education scheme," he said.