People's Democracy

THE central secretariat of the SFI has strongly condemned the murder of two agitators in police firing at Bhagalpur University in Bihar on January 31. Maneesh Kumar, a student, and Mohammad Shah died on the spot and nine persons were seriously injured; among them the condition of three is critical. The students were agitating for withdrawal of the five-fold fee hike imposed by the university and for holding of the students union election. The SFI, AISF, AIDSO and DSU are leading the ongoing agitation against the commercialisation of education.

In connivance with the local police and administration, the vice chancellor of the university decided to brutally suppress the student agitation, and the firing was is a fallout of this. The SFI has demanded that the Rabri Devi government immediately order a judicial probe into the firing, and take action against the VC and the police officials who are responsible for the murder.

Along with the AISF, AIDSO and DSU, the SFI called upon the student community to boycott the classes on February 4. It also appealed to the public to observe a state level hartal on February 6 to demand a judicial probe into the firing, immediate action against those responsible for the police firing, immediate withdrawal of the fee hike and holding of the students union election. (INN)