Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, August 9

At least 20 students were hurt when they clashed with police personnel in Amrit Science Campus (ASCOL), Thamel, today while they were protesting against Tribhuvan University's decision to phase-out the Proficiency Certificate Level.

According to Kamal Basnet, president of the Free Students Union, ASCOL, the security personnel had lathi charged and fired tear gas shells to disperse the students while they were demanding the release of Posan KC, member of All Nepal National Free Students Union who was arrested in the protest against PCL phase-out earlier.

"The security personnel entered the college and hostel premises and started beating up the students mercilessly," he said. He added that at least half-a-dozen students had been seriously injured in the incident. They were taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Bir Hospital for treatment.

He said more than 20 students were injured in the clash. He added that the irate students torched a government vehicle after the police high-handedness and threatened the campus chief. He also warned that they would obstruct the exams scheduled for tomorrow if the government failed to come to a conclusion till midnight to provide treatment to the injured students and take action against the security personnel.

SC summons TU on PCL case

Kathmandu: The Supreme Court today summoned the government authorities, including the Tribhuvan University, to be present in the hearing regarding the phasing-out of the Proficiency Certificate Level on August 17.

A single bench of Justice Bala Ram KC issued the order to the government authorities--the Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet, the Ministry of Education and the Tribhuvan University--for the hearing. Following the hearing, the bench will decide whether or not to issue an interim order in the case.

The bench also directed the authorities to submit their explanations within 15 days. The bench was responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Ram Krishna Kafle and human rights activist Raju Thapa. The petitioners said the decision to phase out the PCL was a violation of the Interim Constitution of Nepal, the Tribhuvan University Act, 1992, and Higher Secondary Education Council Act, 1989. The petitioner claimed that the decision of the government would infringe upon the right to education of more than 400,000 students in the country.

Fast-unto-death

KIRTIPUR: Activists of the All Nepal National Independent Students' Union-Revolutionary ending their relay hunger strike started a fast-onto-death in front of the Vice Chancellor's office at Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, on Sunday. The students are demanding the TU to withdraw its decision to phase-out the Proficiency Certificate Level programme. President of the ANNISU-R Lekhnath Neupane, Treasurer Ramesh Malla, central member Birendra Basnet and president of the Free Students Union, Sanothimi Campus, on Sunday started their fast-unto-death protest. The student union had begun a nationwide relay hunger strike in all the colleges running PCL. —HNS