JOIN USPolice lathicharged at protesters of the “Occupy UGC” movement after they allegedly tried to break past the barricades on Tuesday. At least 15 students were injured in the police attack, according to organisers of the movement.
Earlier on Monday, students demanding re-instatement of the non-NET fellowship for researchers said they were in no mood to relent despite the Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Smriti Irani’s assurance that there is no move to nix the existing fellowship.
“Students tried to break past the barricade and they even attacked cops,” said a senior police official about the incident. However, he denied reports that some students were injured in the attack.
“Protesters were chased by hundreds of policemen. They were isolated and beaten up brutally,” said Sunny Kumar, one of the organisers of the movement, claiming that the protesters didn’t clash with the police.
“It was a motivated attack,” he added. The injured were taken to the Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital and Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital.
Students have been camping outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) office for the last one week. “Occupy UGC movement and gherao of UGC was strong all through Monday night and Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds are pouring in and pressure is being continuously mounted,” Kumar said.
The protesters want re-instatement of the fellowship for students taking admission in research programme from the next academic session.