Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Oct 29: A peace meeting of the students was held in the government first grade college here, to find out an amicable solution to the situation created by the clashes between two student factions within the college premises on Tuesday last.
The meeting was kept off-limit for the pressmen. The principal of the college, Krishnappa Madiwala, had earlier invited the journalists for the meeting. However, as soon as the meeting began at 3.30 pm, the journalists were sent out, with the help of the policemen. This created heartburn among the media men.
Relating the clashes in which four students got admitted into a hospital after suffering injuries, joint director in the department of education, Eranna, had visited the college on Wednesday. During his discussions with the principal, circle inspector and lecturers, it was decided to hold a special peace meet of the students on Thursday.
It is learnt that at the meeting, it was decided that the students will sink their differences and harmoniously take part in all activities. Circle inspector, Nanjunde Gowda, local station house officer, Vivekananda, deputy tahsildar, Raghupati Shastri, college betterment committee member, Ashwinikumar Rai, and others participated in the meeting.
At the same time, Devadas Krishnapura, president, Adidravida Samaja Seva Sangha, and Keshava, president of District Dalit Sangharsh Samiti, condemned the action of some students in assaulting student leader, Madhava V S, and hurling abuses at him, deriding the latter’s caste affiliation.
In a joint conference held at the Press Club at B C Road on Thursday, they said that in the capacity of student leader, Madhava had intervened to settle a quarrel between two groups. They accused a group of hostile students of assaulting Madhava, speaking derogatorily of his caste affiliation, and thus inflicting physical and psychological injuries on him. They also accused the joint director of education department of asking Madhava during his visit to the college, to withdraw his complaint or leave the college. They condemned the action of the joint director, and said they will file a complaint with higher officials in the department about this incident.
Leaders of the organizations, Vishwanath Chendtimar, Baby Mairanpade and Doomappa were present at the press conference.