DU hostlers observe nightlong sit-in over lack of water, forced eviction

Students at Delhi University's University Hostel for Women staged an overnight sit-in protest over a lack of water supply and alleged extortion by the administration.

Students living in the University Hostel for Women (UHW) of the Delhi University (DU) staged an overnight sit-in over a lack of water supply and ''extortion'' by the administration, according to a Left-backed student group.

The All India Students' Association (AISA) also alleged ''forced eviction'' of students.

''For over a week, these students have been pushed to the brink. While they are in the middle of semester examinations and preparing for NET exams, the administration has declared a virtual red alert, shutting down the water supply across two full blocks and stripping the reading room of basic chairs,'' the group said in the statement.

The students' protest started around 9.30 pm on Thursday and continued till early Friday.

AISA alleged that assurances given by the hostel provost to restore amenities and extend the residency deadline were not fulfilled.

However, in the morning, the administration issued a signed mandate granting an unconditional extension to residents till June 30 and a written guarantee that all infrastructural demands, including reading room chairs and mess coolers, will be met without any further delay, the group said.