TIRUPATI: Vice-Chancellor of Sri Padmavathi Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam (SPMVV) Veena Noble Dass has appointed an enquiry committee to probe the suicide of an M.Sc Applied Mathematics student, K. Uma Maheswari, three days ago in her hostel room on the campus.
Ms. Dass announced that the committee comprising the Registrar, Dean and hostel warden would submit its report to her after making a thorough enquiry. She also announced that a neighbourhood committee would be formed with parents, public relations officer and representatives of print and electronic media to monitor the goings-on on the campus.
The announcement comes in the wake of a furore created by activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on the campus on Wednesday, alleging that proselytisation and pressure to convert religion had driven the student to suicide. The activists also damaged the car of the Vice-Chancellor accusing her of encouraging religious preaching on the campus.
Rumour denied
To a query by media persons on the alleged conversion attempt, Ms. Dass said the committee would investigate on the issue. She also made it clear that none of those found responsible for the student’s death would be spared. On the rumour that her roommates had seen a suicide note which was later found missing, she insisted that the varsity and police authorities could not trace anything.
Meanwhile, the BJP Chittoor district unit has demanded an enquiry by a High Court judge into the allegations of forced conversions on the campus for the last three years. Swadeshi Jagran Manch State general secretary A. Krishna Kishore wondered why the TTD management preferred to remain a mute spectator to the spate of allegations.
The ABVP has expressed its displeasure over the composition of the panel.
Remove V-C
Hyderabad Special Correspondent writes: BJP floor leader G. Kishen Reddy, has demanded removal of the Vice-Chancellor saying she had no right to continue in the post after a student committed suicide in the hostel.
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