Protesting GKVK students lock up gates of university building

BENGALURU: Agriculture science students, who have been on protest for the last 18 days, expressed their anger against the government on Monday by locking up the main gates of the Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra (GKVK) buildings and made teachers stand outside.

The students allege violation of rules in recruitment for Agriculture Officer (AO) and Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) posts. They have been protesting against bypassing the Agriculture Department’s Cadre and Recruitment’ (C&R) rules and allowing graduates from other fields.

Agriculture university students and graduates across the state have launched an indefinite protest. As the buildings were locked, the VC, Registrar, Deans and HoDs of the were standing outside on Monday morning. Even female students are part of the protest. The heads of departments were trying to convince the students, but the latter are not yielding and were adamant that they will not remove the locks on the buildings.

After some time Vice-Chancellor S V Suresh left the spot. With no other option, the staff were left standing outside watching the students. Students have shut down the entire administrative office complex and were insisting that they will not remove the locks until their demands are met. Students from Dharwad, Mandya, Raichur, Shivamogga, and Bengaluru universities are protesting together.

Additional police personnel and a KSRP platoon were deployed at the protest site as a precautionary measure.