Parent Teachers Association expresses solidarity with Don Bosco College
KALPETTA: The Parent Teachers Association (PTA) general body of the Don Bosco College, Sulthan Bathery held on Thursday expressed total support to the management till the last culprit involved in the violence on the campus was arrested and full compensation paid to the institution. It may be recalled that SFI and DYFI workers unleashed violence on the campus on Tuesday resulting in widespread destruction. A resolution passed in the meeting also expressed shock and angst at the way in which police behaved during the rampage by being mere witness to the widespread destruction. However, there were no serious steps to check the goons, the resolution noted.
The goons unders the guise of students had destroyed 179 window panes, 10 computers, 12 switch boards, water taps, countless chairs, furniture at the office of the principal, notice boards and toilets, said the institution. So far only 13 persons were arrested though there were hundreds involved. Don Bosco College principal Fr Joy Ullattil told this newspaper that apart from around 15 students, all others in the odd mob were strangers.
The meeting unanimously supported the decision of the management to ensure that there is no party politics among students within the campus. They can engage in union activities, but not on party lines. Explaining the decisions, PRO of the institution Biju T.T. said that the parents asked the management to keep the college closed till there is an assurance from the concerned officials. The total loss to the institution is approximately Rs 10 lakh, he said, adding that real magnitude of the destruction can be assessed only after the valuation process, which is still on.
The PTA also constituted a special committee to pursue the issue legally in all forums. The PTA would bring the attention of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala into the issue and would also send memorandums to all. The parents, students along with teachers took out a rally in Sulthan Bathery town expressing solidarity to the management. The incident was sequel to the suspension of Jishnu Venugopal, a student leader for organising political activities in the college premises.
