Kolkata: University students stage sit-in demanding immediate reopening of hostels

KOLKATA: A section of Presidency University students had been staging a sit-in on its College Street campus here for the past two days, demanding that hostels be reopened immediately. The agitators, all boarders of university hostels in central Kolkata and New Town, were camping outside the office of Dean of Students Arun Maity, who continued to remain stuck in his chamber since Monday evening.

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Maity, when contacted, confirmed that the protest was being held, but refused to divulge any other detail. Two other varsity officials were also held up in their offices on the first floor of the College Street campus as the students held demonstrations outside. One of the agitators said, "We have been staging this sit-in since 4 pm on Monday demanding that Hindu hostel in College Street and another girls' hostel in New Town be opened as offline classes have begun."

Many students, especially the ones who live outside the city, returned to the campus but they currently had no place to stay, he explained. "University authorities, however, is not taking any step to address our concerns," he maintained. The student also said the sit-in would continue till Vice Chancellor Anuradha Lohia gave "definite assurances" about reopening of the two hostels.

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An official of the university said that hostels had been lying shut since March 16, 2020 and students should realise that it would take some time to put everything back in order.