PJTAU students protest for stipend hike

Tension prevailed on the campus of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University here on Friday when several students marched to the campus and took to sloganeering amid police presence, demanding an increase in their monthly stipends.

The protest-hunger strike began with a road blockade on Thursday after a week of agitation over what students say are insufficient allowances that fail to cover basic expenses. The students alleged that repeated appeals to college administration and government leaders went unanswered.

Even as police personnel entered the campus to control students, three students climbed atop the roof of the campus’s canteen building and threatened to jump, unless their demands were met. The campus building erupted with slogans of ‘we want justice’ and accusing the authorities of neglecting students’ welfare. The students said they were prepared to sacrifice their lives to compel favourable action.