The Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST) was closed indefinitely on Tuesday following a clash between police and rioting students. Four policemen — a sub-inspector and three constables — and five students were injured in the clash.
About 75 engineering students relegated for failing protested against the university administration, demanding restoration to their programmes. The protest turned violent when some of the students started damaging private and public property at the university campus on Allama Iqbal Road.
The police responded by using tear gas and baton-charging the students in an attempt to disperse them. Before being dispersed, however, the students managed to damage a police van, a bus and multiple motorcycles. They also stoned the electricity complaint office in front of the campus.
All injured students and policemen were discharged from Mirpur District Headquarter Hospital after being treated.
MUST Director Students Faisal Mahmood Butt said that about 25 engineering students had been relegated to the first semester from the third after they failed. Moreover, he added, that another 50 students were dropped from their programmes after they failed in their final year. These students, he said, had been given a chance to resume their studies after paying a fine of Rs25,000 each, reduced from the initial Rs50,000 that the university had imposed.
The police arrested at least four students and booked several for rioting.
Additional Superintendent of Mirpur Police Raja Irfan Salim and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amjad Iqbal Chaudhry confirmed that the police had rounded up at least four students, who were later released after they were found innocent. However, police have booked unidentified miscreants for damaging private and public property, they said.
Mirpur Assistant Commissioner said, “The situation has been brought under control after [the university was closed].”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2012.
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