Thrissur: A strike called by students weeks ago at Nehru College of Engineering and Research Center, following death of its student Jishnu Pranoy, came to an end Wednesday. The college management agreed to the demands raised by the students at a meeting convened by Thrissur collector Dr A. Kowsigan.
The accused in Jishnu's death will soon be arrested, the collector assured students in the meeting.
The decisions emerged in the meeting are:
» 5 persons who are responsible for Jishnu's death, including Nehru Group of Institutions chairman P. Krishnadas, will be arrested soon
» Krishnadas will be removed as chairman. Management trustee Krishnakumar will be given the post
» Will allow formation of a student union in college. Till a union is formed, a 15-member coordination committee will function in the college
» No action will be taken against students who took part in the strike. Their lost attendance will be restored
» Steps will be taken to form parents teachers association (PTA) and a student grievance cell
» A peace committee, under the presidency of Chelakkara MLA U.R. Pradeep, will be formed. If there are any issues in the college, this panel will intervene
» An additional district magistrate will be asked to make sure that these decisions are implemented
In the meeting called upon a directive by education minister C. Raveendranath, representatives of parents, management and student outfits took part. With decisions emerging out of the meeting, the strike, launched by SFI, KSU, AISF, ABVP and MSF, has now come to an end.
Jishnu was found hanging in his hostel in January with the fellow students alleging that college authorities had harassed him after he was caught for 'copying' in an examination.
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of five accused, including chairman Krishnadas, remain unknown. The police said that the accused have gone into hiding and hence, their arrest is delayed.