College students suspected of stealing speakers

Students of the Government Arts College on Nrupathunga Road have reportedly stolen 20 audio speakers in a span of four months from their classrooms.

The robberies took place between September 17, 2017, and January 9, 2018.  

After the series of thefts, the Principal of the college, Venkatashama Reddy, decided to lodge a complaint with the Halasurugate police on January 10. It was to officially document the thefts as he was answerable to the Department of Collegiate education.

Four audio speakers and a projector with accessories were  installed  in every classroom of the college. Each speaker was worth between Rs. 400 and Rs 500, Reddy said.

"This infrastructure was made available at the degree college classrooms under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), which is a centrally sponsored scheme, launched in 2013. It aimed to provide strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions," Reddy told DH.

Miscreants have made away with one or two speakers from several classrooms.

Around 50 to 60 audio speakers remain untouched and the principal was worried the thefts would continue if the incident was not reported.

According to a college staff, the institution has hooligan students who resort to such practices and this complaint would scare and deter them from indulging in such acts, said a college staff.

The police, however, are yet to nab the culprits whom they suspect are a few students who committed for mischief and fun and not for monetary gains.