Assam: 5 Bangladeshi students in NIT-Silchar suspended for campus violence; to be deported

NEW DELHI: Five Bangladeshi students from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar in Assam have been suspended for allegedly taking part in violent clashes on campus and will face deportation, officials said on Monday.The students, who were enrolled under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships, were also allegedly found in possession of narcotic substances during a search of their hostel rooms, NIT Director Dilip Kumar Baidya said.

He added that all five students will be deported to Bangladesh."We have enough evidence to establish that they were actively involved in campus violence and have been suspended for two semesters," the director said.The incident took place on September 8, when a group of third-year Bangladeshi students allegedly assaulted some of their fellow countrymen."We investigated the matter thoroughly and suspended the five students for an academic year. They have also been expelled from the hostel as part of the punishment," he said.Dean of Students' Welfare S. S Dhar said that narcotics were recovered from the accused students’ rooms, and this was considered while deciding the disciplinary action.

"Primarily, the action was for campus violence, but the suspected use of narcotics was also considered," Dhar said.Eyewitnesses claimed that on the night of September 8, the five students, allegedly under the influence of drugs, went on a rampage and attacked their fellow countrymen."They were armed with rods, knives and screwdrivers, and targeted Bangladeshi students from the final year, causing serious injuries in an attack that lasted nearly 30 minutes," said a student who did not wish to be named.Another student said the accused initially assaulted students from their own batch."When the seniors tried to intervene, the attackers called them to a room for discussion, suddenly switched off the lights and resumed the assault with weapons, leading to further injuries," the student recounted.Several injured students were taken to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH).Doctors reported that two of them sustained serious head injuries and were admitted to the intensive care unit.NIT authorities stated that they conducted an internal investigation, and a senior ICCR officer from the Guwahati zone also visited the campus."We are satisfied with our investigation and the disciplinary measures taken," Dhar said."The ICCR director from Guwahati, who visited the campus on Saturday, was also satisfied with our investigation," he added. (With inputs from agency)