Kochi beef row: University campus shut down indefinitely

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi: With increased tension at Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttanad (CUCEK) campus over the ‘beef row’, authorities have decided to indefinitely close down the campus. North Indian students had alleged that they were fed beef and when they protested, they were assaulted inside the campus.

“We have decided to indefinitely close down the campus from today (Wednesday). Meanwhile, we are also trying to resolve the issue,” said Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) vice-chancellor J Letha. The decision was taken after the talk between Cusat and striking north Indian students failed on Wednesday. Of the 3,500 plus students at CUCEK, around 500 are north Indians.

At the meeting, Letha said an inquiry will be conducted and the report will be submitted within four days based on which action will be taken. The students were told that if they had missed any exam over the past few days, then the university would conduct a re-exam after the inquiry.

“To ensure a safe environment for students, they were also promised police security on campus,” said an official who was present at the meeting.

However, the students didn’t agree and insisted that college principal Sunil Kumar should be immediately suspended for ‘hurting the religious sentiments of the north Indian students’. Cusat authorities rejected this demand and said action will initiated only after an inquiry is conducted.

At a camp inaugurated by the principal last Thursday, organisers offered tea and cutlets. North Indian students alleged that they were misled into eating beef cutlets by saying that the item was vegetarian.