Turmoil at Sanskrit university over shutting down men’s and women’s hostels

The students were on a warpath for the past two weeks in connection with the issues related to the university library which include their demand to let it function for 24 hours. Currently, the library functions only till 6 p.m. The demand is mainly from the research students. Police were called in on Thursday night following the blockade and the registrar was released after their intervention.

Police also arrested five students, Abdu, Aswathy, K.T. Sabu Jan, Ratheesh Madhavan and Balu, with charges of trying to attack the registrar. Demanding the release of the arrested, some of the research students started a strike at the main entrance of the college on Friday morning.

The students said that there were no adequate facilities in the hostel for stay and that food also was not being provided. The registrar said that the university was on vacation now after the semesters were over and hence there was no need for the students to stay in the hostel.

Later, following negotiations, the authorities agreed to reopen the hostels and withdraw the cases against the students. The agitation was led by the SFI and AKRSA. The issues related to the library will be settled after recruitment of sufficient staff.