[Reader-list] Jat-Gujjar rivalry. Fresher's party. Delhi University. Murder. God is in heaven and all is well with the world.

[Albert Krishna Ali]

Delhi University takes security measures after student's murder

3 October 2005
NEW DELHI — (IANS)

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/October/subcontinent_October77.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

The murder of a 20-year-old student outside Aurobindo College on
Friday has shaken Delhi University enough for authorities to take
immediate measures to provide security during the college festivals
and other functions.

With the college festival season just around the corner, Delhi
University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Paintal has said better security
would be provided during the functions.

"We have called for a meeting of all the college principals and these
issues would be discussed," Paintal told IANS. Terming the murder
tragic, he said the college should be more alert during cultural
events.

On Friday, the student, Rinku Tanwar, was stabbed to death by members
of a rival gang after he and his friends stopped them from attending a
fresher's party at Aurobindo College. The rival group students
reportedly did not belong to the college. Four other students were
also injured. According to police, the two groups had clashed before.

According to Paintal, discussions would be held with senior police
officers so that adequate police presence could be maintained at
colleges to avoid such incidents in future. He stressed that the staff
and teachers of colleges should get involved in organising festivals
and take on more responsibility. It is normally the students who
organise such events, he said.

According to Paintal, college staff needed to be more vigilant and
alert during cultural events. He said police are always present
outside colleges to maintain law and order.

o o o o

Community clash at the core of DU unrest

By ABANTIKA GHOSH
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SUNDAY, OCTOBER 02, 2005 01:55:11 AM ]
NEW DELHI: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1249485,curpg-2,fright-0,right-0.cms

When students of Sri Aurobindo College walked into their campus on
Friday, they were looking forward to two hours of DJ and dance party.
But what they got instead was blood at the gates. One person was
stabbed to death and three injured, in a fight reportedly over entry
of outsiders.

Only, it quickly assumed the colours of a Jat-Gujjar showdown. So why
are DU colleges cauldrons of aggression waiting to boil over at the
slightest pretext? Times City takes a look. Jat-Gujjar rivalry has
been Delhi University's (DU) bane for decades.

It has increased over the years with the urbanisation of Delhi's
periphery. Residents sold lands at high rates. What remained was a
population that was not exactly urban in character or culture but had
a lot of money. The correlation between rural background and less
marks may not be a politically correct statement, but it is a reality.

So colleges with an evening section that admit academically poorer
students have a perpetual law and order problem, says a DU insider.
Says a college principal: "The nouveau riche do not identify with
their urban collegemates. Violence for them is almost a ticket to
acceptance."

Agrees sociologist Anand Kumar. "The urban-rural divide is a problem
in DU. But what is more unfortunate is the benign neglect that
authorities have been displaying when it comes to lumpensiation of
marginal students. It is the responsibility of the vice-chancellor to
take the initiative to cleanse the campus," he says.

Vice-chancellor Deepak Pental says, "Freshers' party is not a
pan-university exercise like DUSU elections. It is not possible for
the VC or the proctor to be present everywhere. It is the college
principal's responsibility to inform us about such programmes and ask
for additional security arrangements. I have asked the proctor to hold
an inquiry." Apart from the power equations stemming from students'
polls, where all political parties resort to brawn to win votes, girls
too are a potential reason.

Says a student of ARSD College: "Every day, the campus sees minor
fights that stem from real or perceived disrespect of girlfriends. It
is a matter of prestige."