Presidency University election: Denied entry after stipulated time, students clash with security guards

Some students of Presidency University were reportedly denied permission to enter the campus and tried to enter forcefully on Monday, causing a scene at the university premises.

On Monday, while the student body election was in progress, security guards at the campus stopped the students at the main gate of the University. The guards told the students that as they came to the campus after the notified time of entry, they would not be let in.

The students, however, began pressurising the guards to open the gates. They even went on to threaten the guards with dire consequences if they refused to open the gate.

As an altercation ensued between the students and the guards, many people gathered near the campus main gate. The students eventually got involved in a fight with the guards, with some of the students trying to jump over the boundary wall of the college. Soon, police personnel and security guards restrained the students from entering the campus.

Later, some more students gathered and began a demonstration in front of the college main entrance. They, were, however, still not allowed to enter the campus.

"We were a little bit of late in reaching the University due to heavy traffic. We all know how traffic jams in Kolkata are. We told them [security guards] that we should be permitted to enter the college, but the unruly guards did not pay heed to us," one of the students alleged.

On the other hand, the security guards said that they were being repeatedly threatened by the students.

"We were told by the University authorities that nobody should enter the campus after the stipulated time which was informed earlier. We could not permit them to enter," a security guard said.

It may be recalled that Presidency University had recently decided to hold the student body election and the college authorities took adequate safety measures. A guideline was formulated for the students as well.

The state government has asked all colleges and universities to complete the elections within January 31.

Calcutta University and Jadavpur University have already completed their respective election process.