Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jan 17: Students of Karnataka Polytechnic (KPT) on Saturday January 17 rose in protest demanding the resignation of the KPT hostel warden, alleging that he had beaten up and abused four students for coming late to the hostel.

The students alleged that Mohan Raj, the student welfare officer and hostel warden, beat up four hostel inmates and also abused them.

Following the allegations and the protest, the warden resigned from his post, even though he maintained that he had not hit or abused anybody.

Speaking to daijiworld, Manoj, one of the students who was allegedly abused, narrated the incident and said, "Four students - Kasim, Shreeshai, Tejas and I - had been to do catering work on January 14 evening, as we are financially poor and have to support ourselves with jobs. By the time we returned it was 11.30 pm, so the warden did not allow us in and made us sleep in the verandah. He also abused us and beat us up with wires."

He further alleged, "The warden is too strict and always imposing fines."

Principal of the college Karunakara Rai speaking to daijiworld said, "The matter has been resolved now. There is pressure from parents to impose discipline. Some students go out after 6.30 pm which is the deadline, and come late in the night. Some of them even consume alcohol, so to maintain discipline we have imposed strict rules. As far as this issue is concerned, we have already rectified the situation and arrived at a compromise. The issue will be brought to the notice of the KPT director.

"We have installed CCTVs cameras in the hostel to monitor the activities of the students," he added.

He also informed that the warden will resign, adding, "No one comes forward to take the warden's job as it is very difficult to control the students. When they are indisciplined, rules have to be implemented strictly."

Speaking to daijiworld, Mohan Raj denied the allegdations and said, "I did not hit or abuse anybody. But I will still resign from my post."