Mangaluru: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leaders have questioned the police over an alleged demand that students arrested during a protest against examinations held during the Dasara festival at a city college sign a bond of ₹1 lakh, pledging not to participate in similar protests in the future.
Addressing a press conference at the Mangaluru Press Club, ABVP Karnataka State Joint Secretary Suvit Shetty questioned the fairness of the alleged move, arguing that such a requirement raised concerns about students’ right to protest in a democratic system.
Shetty also criticised the college management for allegedly refusing to discuss the examination issue with student representatives and accused a police officer of slapping a student during the protest. ABVP has demanded an apology from the officer and disciplinary action, warning that it would intensify its agitation if the demands were not met.
ABVP questions police over ₹1 lakh bond
Speaking at the press conference, Shetty questioned why students involved in the protest had allegedly been asked to sign a bond of ₹1 lakh, undertaking not to participate in similar demonstrations in the future.
He sought clarification on whether comparable conditions had been imposed on participants in other protests held in Mangaluru.
“Several protests have taken place in Mangaluru. How many of them have resulted in such bond requirements?” he asked.
Shetty said the alleged condition was unfair and questioned its appropriateness in a democratic society. The organisation expressed concern over the reported bond requirement and its implications for students who wished to raise grievances over academic decisions.
The allegation regarding the bond was raised by ABVP leaders during the press conference. Further details about the police action and the legal grounds, if any, for the reported requirement were not provided in the account of the press conference.
Dispute over examinations during Dasara
The protest arose from the college management’s decision to conduct examinations during the Dasara festival, which students opposed.
According to Shetty, ABVP representatives visited the college on October 10 to discuss the issue with the management. He said the organisation sought to resolve the matter through dialogue, keeping students’ interests in mind.
However, he alleged that the management did not show the courtesy to engage in a discussion with the representatives.
Following the unsuccessful attempt to hold discussions, students decided to stage a protest against the college’s decision on October 12. ABVP subsequently extended its support to the students’ agitation, Shetty said.
The dispute highlights the disagreement between students and the college management over the examination schedule during the festival period. The students’ protest was directed against the decision to hold examinations during Dasara, while ABVP leaders said they had attempted to address the issue through discussions before supporting the agitation.
The college management’s response to the allegations was not included in the information provided at the press conference.
ABVP responds to questions on police permission
During the interaction with the media, Shetty was asked whether ABVP had obtained police permission to stage a protest outside an educational institution while examinations were under way.
In response, he said the organisation had not gone to the college with the intention of staging a protest.
His statement came amid questions about the circumstances under which the agitation took place on October 12. The issue of police permission formed part of the discussion at the press conference, alongside the alleged bond requirement and the conduct of police personnel during the incident.
The sequence of events described by Shetty was that ABVP representatives first approached the college management on October 10, students decided to protest on October 12 after the alleged failure of discussions, and ABVP supported their agitation.
The police department’s version of the incident and its position on the permission issue were not available in the account of the press conference.
Allegation that police officer slapped student
Shetty also alleged that a police officer had slapped a student at the protest site. He questioned the officer’s authority to act in such a manner and demanded accountability over the alleged incident.
ABVP called for the officer to apologise by the evening of October 15 and demanded that disciplinary action be initiated against him.
The organisation said it would intensify its agitation from October 16 if its demands were not met.
The allegation concerning the student and the demand for action against the officer were raised by ABVP at the press conference. An independent confirmation of the alleged incident or a response from the officer concerned was not included in the information provided.
ABVP warns of intensified agitation
Reiterating its demands, ABVP said it expected the authorities to address the alleged treatment of the arrested students and the incident involving the police officer.
The organisation’s demands include an apology from the officer by the evening of October 15 and disciplinary action against him. Shetty warned that the agitation would be intensified from the following day if the demands were not fulfilled.
ABVP leaders Shashank, Harshitha and Tasmay were also present at the press conference.
The developments have brought the dispute over examinations during Dasara into focus, with the organisation raising questions about the college’s response to student concerns and the subsequent police action.
The next steps will depend on the response of the police and college authorities to the allegations and demands raised by ABVP.