Pressing for their long-pending demand on security issues, students at the North Bengal University (NBU) on Thursday padlocked the administrative department.

The students on Thursday especially protested “interference from outsiders in NBU matters” and the alleged thrashing of university students. However, the demonstration was lifted after NBU vice-chancellor (V-C) Dr Subiresh Bhattacharya assured the students that they would install more Closed Circuit TV Cameras (CCTV) for security of the students.

The security issues at NBU resurfaced after a student was allegedly slapped by an outsider on the campus ground while practicing for their upcoming university cricket tournament, the University Premier League (UPL), on 26 March.

Similarly, on Wednesday, students of the NBU staged an evening protest by blocking the Asian Highway-II for about an hour after some youths from outside the NBU campus allegedly beat up two university students at the university gate.

Police sources, meanwhile, said they arrested two persons in this connection on Wednesday night. “The duo, identified as Subham Kamti and Md Irfan, both residents of Neemtala at Shivmanidir in Siliguri, were arrested on Wednesday night in connection with the alleged beating up of a university student,” the sources said.

The students started their demonstration in the morning on Thursday at the administrative department and barred staffers from entering the building.

“We feel insecure on the university premises, as outsiders thrash us. If we boys are not safe, how can the girls be safe?” questioned a student. “We’re here to study and not to indulge in all these. The relationship which we maintain with our family members, we maintain the same with everyone in the university, and we don’t want to create problems. Thursday’s agitation was meant to maintain good bond with everyone in and outside the university. While entering the university, the security should check the identity cards and then allow people inside,” said a student of the Chemistry department.

“We lifted the agitation after the VC called us for discussions and assured us installation of sufficient CCTV cvameras on the university premises,” he added. NBU registrar Dr Dilip Sarkar assured the students that the problems would be solved

. “We held a meeting on this; the university is always with the students. We will identify the ‘outsiders’ and take stringent action against them and try solving the problems as soon as possible,” said Mr Sarkar.

Meanwhile, Dr Bhattacharya said, “We are happy that the students were cooperative. We will look into the demands and security is definitely an important issue for which sufficient CCTV cameras will be installed. Regarding the outsiders, locals living in the university areas have been using the ground for some time now, and there has always been a friendly relationship between the university and the locals, but these sudden and recent problems have prompted us to look into the matter and solve the problems as soon as possible.”

Asked about allegations of misconduct against a teacher, Mr Bhattacharya said, “I have received the report, but have not gone through it. Appropriate action will be taken as per the report. In the meantime, the teacher in question has been sent on compulsory leave,” he said.

It may be recalled that students of the NBU’s Department of Computer Science and Application had marched in a protest rally at the NBU on Wednesday against a contractual teacher of the department, Dilip Roy Chowdhury, who has been accused of misconduct and sexually harassing girl students.