Bhagalpur college head unaware of transfer

BHAGALPUR:

Bhagalpur

College of Engineering (BCE) principal Prof Nirmal Kumar has again reiterated his willingness to step down in view of the disturbances created by students on the campus since Thursday night.

According to unconfirmed reports, Kumar has been transferred and Katihar College of Engineering principal F Ansari has been given additional charge of BCE. Kumar, however, said on Monday he was not aware of his

transfer

.

When state principal secretary (science and technology) Harjot Kaur Bamhrah visited the college on Friday to inquire about the incident, Kumar is learned to have expressed his inability to continue as the head of the institution in the prevailing atmosphere and sought his transfer.

The alleged ransacking of the principal’s house followed his order to final-year student Ramesh Kumar to vacate the hostel room on disciplinary grounds on August 23. After the violence, an FIR was lodged by a BCE official naming 11 students and several unidentified students as accused. These students were also asked to vacate their hostel rooms.

Angry over the college move to lodge the FIR, a group of students allegedly again resorted to vandalism — this time on the college campus. A final-year student, Kshitij Kumar Shukla, reportedly attempted suicide in his hostel room after police forces reached the campus at the BCE management’s behest to get the hostels vacated. Kshitij is said to be one of the 11 accused named in the FIR.

Sources said two students — Shivam Kumar and Sahil Saurav — were injured in the violence. While Kshitij is stated to be recuperating at the

Patna

Medical College and Hospital at Patna after his abortive suicide bid, Shivam and Shahil are undergoing treatment at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital at Bhagalpur.

According to the sources, the state government has formed a high-level committee to probe the ugly episode and fix responsibilities that led to the violence.

Meanwhile, the five hostels of BCE, including one for girls, have been vacated in the presence of police and magistrates after the college was ordered to be shut till September 14. An eerie calm prevailed when the administrative building of the BCE opened on Monday.

When contacted, principal Kumar told TOI on Monday he had not received any notification as yet about his transfer. “I no longer wish to continue and it is up to the state government authorities to take a call on the matter,” he said.