Drop sedition charge against students, Panjab varsity tells police

Chandigarh, April 12 (IANS) A day after Chandigarh Police booked 66 students on sedition charges after violence on the Panjab University campus here over fee hike, university authorities on Wednesday sought the dropping of the serious charge.

University Chief Security Officer Ashwani Kaul wrote to police authorities that slogans raised by protesting students during Tuesday’s violent clash with police in Sector 14 were not against the state but University Grants Commission and Human Resource Development Ministry.

Police had booked 66 students for rioting and later for sedition. Police officials said the sedition charge was added following a complaint from university officials.

Around 50 people, including students, policemen and journalists, were injured when students protesting the massive fee hike for various courses clashed with police on the campus. Police took 52 students into custody.

The fee hike, applicable from the 2017-18 academic session, was opposed by Students for Society, Panjab University Students Union, Students of Panjab University, and Students Organisation of India.

The university has been grappling with a financial crisis for the last two-three years as grants from the Centre and the Punjab government are not regular.