Nagpur: Six Dalit and OBC students protesting at Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University (MGAHV), Wardha, have been barred from entering the university campus, days after some of them were named in FIRs, triggering allegations that the administration was trying to “criminalise” the protest. The university, however, said the restriction was an interim disciplinary measure pending an independent inquiry and was necessary to protect academic and administrative functioning.ersityThe protest has been continuing since July 8 over several demands. Those barred include research scholars Niranjan Oberoi (OBC), Rajesh Kumar Yadav (OBC) and Ram Chandra (SC), and students Rahul Kumar Thakur (OBC), Rakesh Ahirwar (SC) and Shivpujan Pasi (SC).The students alleged that a September 1 notice described them as a threat to the campus environment despite the FIRs being under investigation. They maintained that guilt could only be established through due process and demanded withdrawal of the cases, restoration of academic facilities and written orders on their earlier demands.Registrar Kadar Nawaz Khan, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the university had always favoured dialogue and institutional mechanisms for resolving genuine student grievances. However, he alleged that some students and research scholars had been demonstrating inside the administrative building without prior permission since July 8, including beating daphli, disrupting functioning of the vice-chancellor, registrar, examination controller and other offices.The university further alleged that on August 20, students locked all entrances to the administrative building, leaving senior officials and employees confined inside for nearly four hours. It also cited alleged obstruction of official movement, use of loudspeakers near the vice-chancellor’s office and damage to university property.After examining reports and available evidence, the university said it lodged FIRs at Ramnagar police station against students whose prima facie involvement had emerged.The university also clarified that there was no blanket ban on students entering the administrative building and that those requiring access for authorised academic or administrative work would be allowed entry.The protesters are seeking completion of the 2022-23 PhD admission process, shifting women’s studies and film studies back to the main campus, 24-hour library access and basic facilities including food, water, medicines and sanitation. They said PhD interviews were finally held on August 27 following a prolonged legal battle and high court order.
