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Undergrads in clash with security noticed to appear before police
Five students who were involved in a clash with the security personnel at the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura, have been identified and given notice to appear before the police.
A group of students from the university had reportedly attacked the security post at the entrance around 8.10 pm this Monday (24). One security guard was injured in the attack and admitted to hospital.
Dr Praneet Abeysundara, spokesperson for the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura told the Sunday Times that this incident broke out when the security person asked the first-year students not to harass the newcomers.
“Students are having the final semester examination these days as well as the orientation for the new batch. The first-year students started shouting at the newcomers in filthy language. The security person asked them to stop it, and that led to a clash between them,” he added.
“This is an outbreak of students’ anxiety of the past few months due to continuous student suppression,” said a student union leader who wished to remain anonymous.
He added that 122 cases of class suspension, 127 court cases and 40 cases of expulsion of students had taken place, and in addition, they were being threatened over the phone.
“The most recent incident leading to this clash is when a security person had come to the hostel and threatened class suspension of one of the students for returning to the hostel after 8.30 in the night,” he said, adding that, a security officer had no right to threaten students in that manner.
“As we were out of the University when the clash took place, we managed to come and disperse the students. It was all under control when the police reached there,” he said.
“Every instance when students attempt to give vent to their anxiety, we have restrained them. So I don’t see this as a fault of the students,” he added.
The Union leader further added that this particular clash was only a random incident, and there was no intention of continuing with this any further.
According to the disciplinary committee of the university, an inquiry into the incident has yet to be held.