DSNLU north Indian students clash with villagers

Visakhapatnam: A row that broke out between Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) students and villagers at Gotivada village under Sabbavaram mandal a few days ago seems to have created a cultural and regional gap among north Indian students and residents, even after the university management, village leaders and police department have taken some needed measures.

The major issue pointed out by the villagers was north Indian students’ ‘rude’ behaviour outside the campus. According to reports, the locals were opposed to smoking in public by boys and girls’ students in public. However, some students said that only a few of them smoke and it was wrong to blame the entire student community over it. According to north Indian girl students, the villagers are making unfair comments on their dress.

On August 2 late evening, two North Indian students while on their way to college on the motorbike hit an auto-rickshaw when it suddenly took a turn.

This led to a heated argument between students and the driver. One of the students, who was allegedly in an inebriate condition, roughed up the driver. This caught the attention of locals and they attempted to resolve matter, but in vain. It was learnt that locals chased the students till their University campus.

The clash was brought to the notice of SP Rahul Dev Sharma, who spoke to students and the driver in the presence of DSNLU Vice Chancellor Vurrakula Kesava Rao and the village sarpanch VVST Ramesh. Immediately, the students apologised to the driver in front of the SP. Sabbavaram Sub-Inspector T Malleswara Rao said they did not file any case as it was a petty issue.

He advised the students to resolve their issues in a peaceful manner. So far, he said that they have not found any student taking drugs since the DSNLU was moved to Sabbavaram campus.

Meanwhile, students alleged they had seen their classmates being chased by more than 50 villagers into the campus on that day besides pelting stones at them A woman student alleged that the local men have been staring at them indecently whenever they come out of the campus on some personal work in the western outfits.

“To put it simply, if girls wear Churidars they are Telugus and good students, but if they sport jeans and T-shirts, they are North Indians and undignified,” she bemoaned. With the recent scuffle issue taking front stage, the University administration has imposed strict rules, according to sources.

“Even to come out of the campus on small work, we are supposed to take nearly five permissions from the in-charge members. Moreover, the auto-rickshaw drivers are reluctant to ferry us,” she added.

However, the villagers had a different story to tell. Claiming that North Indian students, both boys and girls roam around in the village after the college hours, a villager alleged that they consume alcohol and smoke near a shop outside the campus.