Clashes raise concern over student elections

SHIMLA: In the recent past, several incidents of violence and clashes between student outfits have occurred at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) and its affiliated colleges. Recovery of objectionable materials including iron and wooden rods during a search operation carried out on Wednesday in one of the colleges of Shimla, and the lathicharge incident in another college last week, have raised concern over student politics and the vitiating academic atmosphere in HPU and its colleges.
In June last year after a clash between SFI and ABVP activists in which nearly 25 students were injured, shakedowns conducted in the university hostels on directions of the high court had led to the recovery of objectionable materials. Following this, the hostels were kept shut for nearly two months. This year in May, a bloody clash between SFI and ABVP activists had left more than 12 students injured and the authorities had dissolved the student elected body SCA.
Senior political scientist and chairman of political science department in HPU, Professor Kamal Manohar Sharma, said, "Research work on violence and student politics has been done in HPU but not on a very large scale. Campus politics is more like a political socialization towards larger politics and violence is a byproduct of this, which is condemned in every way."
AVBP and NSUI have had existence on the campus since the 1970s and the first elected body of students - Students Central Association or SCA - was carved out in 1977, SFI has had an edge in the campus politics. Violent clashes in HPU and it colleges have endangered student election, as in 1995 also, polling was withdrawn due to death of a student leader in clashes.
According to sources, the university authorities have already warned of cancelling the elections this year. State secretary of ABVP Ajay Thakur said, "Recent instances of face-off between faculty and students at Sanjauli College has highlighted that students have been raising their voice against corrupt practices of the authorities. If polls are not held, it would lead to further violence."