Biratnagar: Enraged after Purbanchal University (PU) officials issued a statement criticizing the major political parities for demanding their resignation, the parties´ student wings on Monday vandalized the university´s office buildings.

Though the carders of the agitating parities had gone to the university to smear black soot on the face of acting registrar Shambhu Koirala, they went on the rampage after they could not find him.

Besides padlocking the registrar´s office, the infuriated students also broke furniture at the Dean´s office, and hurled stones and bricks, smashing window glasses of PU´s central office at Puspa Lal Chowk in Biratnagar.

The district chapters of eight political parties, including the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, have demanded collective resignation of PU Vice-chancellor Maheshwar Man Shrestha, Deans Shubha Narayan Phatak and Shyam Katuwal, registrar Niraj Pandey and acting registrar Shambhu Koirala. The parties have charged the officials with indulging in irregularities.

The student wings of the political parities accuse the PU officials of trying to suppress their protest.
“The protest has turned violent as the PU officials have provoked the students by issuing a statement against the protest,” said Oshim Alam, a central member of All Nepal National Free Student Union.

Hari Bhattrai, a member of Nepal Student Union (NSU) clarified that the student unions have taken to protest as the PU officials are turning the university into a hot spot for irregularities and personal gain rather than working for the development of the institution and helping to create an environment for education.
“We will not end our protest unless they resign from their posts. We want to give a new lease of life to the university,” he added.
Currently, the PU officials are in Kathmandu and they are reportedly lobbying with the political parties to save their posts. Ironically, all the five officials were appointed through political appointment.

Expressing solidarity to the agitation, the Association of Professors has also announced that it will not support any decision made by the PU executive council.

Following the protest, daily activities of PU has come to a grinding halt over the past few days.

source: republica,22 July 2013