Srinagar, Oct 11: Students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) continued with protests for second running day on Tuesday against the “denial of basic amenities.”
 Students urged the state government to intervene so that their genuine grievances are redressed.
 “NIT officials on Monday evening locked up some hostellers inside and did not allow them to come out for almost an hour,” students said.
 “We've been complaining about poor-quality food served in mess and other problems which we face everyday but the management has failed to respond. Students are even denied clean drinking water. The hostel rooms are in such a dilapidated state that six to seven students are staying in 8x8 rooms,” they added.
 Students alleged that NIT administration acts like monarchs. “We were ruthlessly beaten up here again on the second day by some senior officials of the institute,” they alleged.
 “The admin officials video graphed us and threatened us of dire consequences like rustication and failure,” they added.
 Pertinently, the hostellers, almost 500 in number, skipped classes to demand basic amenities.
 Students alleged instead of responding to students' problems, Dean called police and insisted them to beat the students holding peaceful protest in the college campus.
 “Around a dozen students have already fallen ill due to unhygienic food being provided by the college mess, we are on hunger strike for last three days. We want quality food for which we have already paid hefty amount to the college,” said a group of students.
 Students said if authorities continued to ignore their demands, they would continue their protests.
  “Police resorted to heavy lathi charge this evening injuring many of our colleagues,” students said.
 When contacted the concerned officials continued to evade the quetsions. “I cannot talk to you right now as I am busy in a meeting,” said Niaz Ahmad, Director Physical Education, NIT.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST