A group of students from the University of Jammu today began 'fast-unto-death' in support of their various demands, days after the authorities revoked suspension of five students and discussed their demands.
Dozens of students staged the protest within the university complex and pledged to continue the fast-unto-death till their demands are met.
We are continuing the ongoing 19-day strike in support of our demands. We have started the fast-unto-death and will not budge till the university administration respond positively to our demands, said Abinandan Sharma, a student from the varsity.
On April 4, the students had called off a three-week long agitation after the authorities revoked suspension of five students who were suspended for allegedly ransacking the Dean Students Welfare (DSW) office.
A committee formed by the university and the student representatives had also agreed that the demands raised by the students with respect to university infrastructure and facilities were legitimate and the same should be provided in the shortest possible time.
A girl student said they would call off the ongoing protest immediately if the university comes out with a time frame instead of using "shortest possible time" phrase which they see as a delaying tactic.
Demanding immediate transfer of the Dean Student Welfare, Professor Satnam Kour, Sharma said, "Students are supposed to approach her if they face any problem in the university. But that is not possible anymore now that she has physically assaulted some of the students.
The students are demanding basic facilities like WiFi connectivity inside hostels and round-the-clock library facility for women students.
"We are facing a lot of trouble especially on weekends due to early closure of food courts. We are forced to go out of the university to get food items from the market," the girl student said.
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