Pokhara college chief quits post-vandalism

Pokhara, December 14:

CPN-UML affiliated ANNFSU and CPN-Maoist affiliated ANNISU-R today indulged in arson and vandalism at Janapriya Campus here. The students were furious when campus chief Sabita Baidya, backed by the Nepal Students’ Union, unlocked the campus today.

The protesting students had locked up Baidya in a room a week ago. After she managed to come out of the room today, her resignation was demanded. She tendered her resignation after the two unions resorted to vandalism.

The students had been agitating for the past one week demanding fulfillment of their 19-point demand, including election of the free students’ union, dissolution of the students’ welfare club and Baidya’s resignation. The enraged students damaged property worth at least Rs 5 lakhs, the campus administration said.

The campus management committee has agreed to resolve the issue through dialogue. Baidya said she was a victim of campus politics and that her call to convene the general meeting of the campus management committee was ignored. NSU organised a protest rally over the vandalism in the campus.