KOCHI: In a bid to resolve the hostel crisis, the Cochin University of Science and Technology has decided to execute the proposed projects to construct four new hostels on a war-footing.
This comes after the violent protest by the activists of the Students Federation of India demanding hostel facilities for all B.Tech students on Thursday night.
The police lathi charged the agitators and arrested seven of them. Earlier, the senior students objected to the authorities’ decision to earmark hostel rooms for first-year students and the rest on a proportionate basis.
Demanding permanent hostel facility for nine B.Tech girl students right away, the agitators locked up Registrar S. David Peter and warden Job Thomas.
Several agitators and a policeman were injured and vehicles damaged in the clash on Thursday midnight.
Classes, including research works, were suspended till August 5. “Hostels will also remain shut except for students, who have come from outside the state,” the Registrar said.
A decision on initiating disciplinary action against students involved in Thursday’s incidents will be taken based on the first information report filed by the police,” Mr Peter said.
“The building committee is expected to approve the plan and the estimate of the cost of construction of the new hostels by next week”, he said.
