Engineering students of Jadavpur University have been on a relay hunger-strike since last night which they went on shortly after lifting a 51-hour gherao of the VC, Pro VC and the registrar demanding revocation of the suspension of two students for ragging.
"Our relay hunger-strike is to press for withdrawal of the suspension orders since it was not a case of ragging," claimed a spokesman of the agitating students belonging to Forum for Engineering and Technology Students Union (FETSU).
He said that the university authority's decision has been challenged and demand made for a fresh probe to 'find the truth'.
Registrar P K Ghosh said that the university authority has asked the agitators to call off the relay hunger-strike, but there would be no change in the decision on suspension of the two fourth year students.
The students last night lifted a 51-hour gherao of the Vice Chancellor, Pro V-C and the registrar, but shortly afterwards launched a relay hunger-strike on their demand.
Pro V-C Siddhartha Dutta said that the gherao has been withdrawn unconditionally and the university authorities have not buckled under pressure to revoke the suspension order on the two students and were firm on their decision.
Dutta, along with VC Souvik Bhattacharya were taken ill during the gherao and were advised rest by doctors.
West Bengal Education minister Bratya Basu has condemned the gherao and described it as 'inhuman'.
Basu has said that the state government was totally against ragging and gherao in educational institutions.
