It is reported that more than the majority of cars in the streets were burning. Some students set two cars, one bus, one ambulance, and many motorbikes on fire.
A midnight protest that started at VIT University in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, escalated to violence in the late hours of Tuesday, as students blamed the poor cleanliness and contaminated water for the modification of several cases of jaundice occurring on the campus. The university is situated along the Indore-Bhopal Highway.
As per the students, nearly 24 students were recently confronted with the jaundice symptoms. Also, some non-verified reports of at least three students who died of jaundice in the last month on the campus came up, though the authorities have not confirmed this yet.
The issue of unsafe hostel water compelled the students to buy bottled water, which they mentioned repeatedly before ignored complaints of food quality and hygiene. The matter escalated when some of the faculty members accused of assaulting the protesting students.
When word about the fight got out, myriad students assembled in front of their hostels till midnight, shouting slogans and demanding immediate action from the university administration.
The riot proliferated and eventually transformed into an uncontrollable event. During the incidents posted on social media, more than the majority of cars in the streets were burning. It is reported that some students set two cars, one bus, one ambulance, and many motorbikes on fire. Some parts of the chancellor’s bungalow were also usurped, it is said.
The night saw members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) bring their presence on the campus late. In an attempt to control the situation and avoid further damage, police teams from Sehore and nearby districts were called to the scene.
To date, there has been no release of an official statement from the VIT University administration or the district officials.
As reported by police, they are in the process of determining the origin of the illnesses, probing into the accusations of assault and also evaluating the destruction. The steps to take next will be devised after the investigation is over.
