[Mangalorean] Mangalore: KPT students stage protest against principal

Link to report

Mangalore Sept 12: A section of students of Karnataka Polytechnic (KPT), Kadri, in the City staged a protest in front of the institute on Tuesday, alleging that their principal has been treating them inhumanly and following step-motherly attitude.

The students studying in Civil and Automobiles Engineering departments gathered in the premises of college by 8.30 am and demanded that Principal B Vijaya Kumar should be transferred immediately, who "treats them as criminals".

The students alleged that the principal threatens them with police if they protest against his injustice and "mercilessly fails the students who do not attend his private tuition classes". Some of the female students complained that lady invigilators are not allowed into the examination halls, but the principal himself looks after the responsibility, and humiliates them.

Student leader Dheeraj said the regular students are being treated with a step-motherly attitude.

"More facilities are being provided to the continuing education unit and MSEZ students, while other students lack basic facilities in the college. The play ground of the institute cannot be used at all," he said.

The protesters also said a junior faculty has been appointed as the warden of the KPT hostel though there is a rule that the senior most person should be given the responsibility.

"The present warden is making imaginary allegations against the students and mentally tortures them," they complained.

Principal speaks

Amidst all these, the principal of the college B Vijaya Kumar had a different version to explain.

He told Deccan Herald that the students are protesting against the suspension of two students from the hostel, in the backdrop of a ragging incident.

He said two students of Civil Engineering department Vasanth and Prashanth were suspended for ragging their juniors in the hostel premises on September 4. "I am a strict disciplinarian and some students do not tolerate this.

Four students have given me a written complaint and on the recommendation of the warden Mohan Heble, I suspended them," he said.

Mr Kumar said he tried to convince the students but they continued with the protest.

However, the students said 'ragging' is not at all the issue of their protest, as "there were no such incidents".

DHNS