Indore College Students Suspended For Keeping 150 Staff ‘Hostage’ Over Holi Event

Indore: Four student ‘leaders’ from the Government Holkar Science College here were suspended on Friday for allegedly holding over 150 staff hostage after being denied permission to celebrate a Holi programme.

The students had planned to organise a Holi fest on March 7, featuring DJ performances and a ‘rain dance’, PTI reported citing an official. A Civil Services exam coaching centre was to co-sponsor the event, which had an entry fee of Rs 150.

The college administration, though, put its foot down. Despite permission being denied, the students put up posters on the campus about the event.

“The students put up posters on February 23, announcing a Holi event at the college on March 7 without permission of the principal. These posters were removed on the instructions of the college head,” an official stated.

On February 24, students protested the removal of posters and reportedly locked the door of a college hall from outside, cut off power supply at a time when a meeting involving around 150 people, including female professors, was in progress.

They were trapped inside the hall for about 30 minutes as the students continued demonstrations and shouted slogans.

The district administration probed the incident and found four students guilty of gross indiscipline, confirmed Dr Anamika Jain, the principal.

The probe report said their actions amounted to “serious indiscipline” and recommended strict action.

“Thus, all four were expelled and were instructed to collect their transfer certificates,” she stated.

The 134-year-old college was established in 1891 by the Holkars, then rulers of Indore.