In one of the fiercest student uprisings Haryana has seen in years, protests at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, have entered a volatile phase — marked by hunger, intimidation, and unyielding resolve.
Not even torrential rain — lashing thrice in a single day — could weaken the hundreds of students, from juniors to PhD scholars, who continue their sit-in outside one of Asia’s largest agricultural universities.
Their central demand: immediate action against officials allegedly involved in a violent baton charge on June 10, and the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Dr B R Kamboj.
Instead of dialogue, the university administration appears to have turned the screws — halting hostel mess services, initiating room evacuations, and using police to call parents and village sarpanchs to dissuade participation.
‘We are not afraid’
“They’re trying to scare us. The police told my family I might get arrested,” said Kirti, an MSc student. “Now even our food has been stopped. Many of us have missed exams, but we’re not leaving.”
On June 27, PhD scholar Nikita confronted the administration. “We are standing hungry in front of you. Why has our food been stopped? What is our crime?” she demanded.
The Director of Students’ Welfare, Dr S K Pahuja, deflected, claiming mess closures were due to post-exam repairs.
But students allege a deliberate clampdown on dissent.
Baton charges and blood petitions
The protest originally erupted over changes to stipend eligibility — but turned into a full-blown agitation after a June 10 demonstration was reportedly met with brutal force.
Dipanshu, a first-year BSc student, was among several injured. “As we sat near the V-C’s residence, his car arrived.
Following his instructions, the registrar, professors, and guards attacked us with sticks,” he stated in his police complaint. He needed nine stitches on his head.
Assistant Professor Radhe Shyam was arrested on June 15. His bail plea was denied by Additional Sessions Judge Madhulika on June 27, who noted the allegations were “quite serious”.
In a dramatic show of unity, 397 students signed a petition — in their own blood.
‘We came for degrees but fighting for dignity now’
First-year student Shreya Singh, who witnessed the violence, said, “We came here to study. But we saw even first-years being beaten. We are not just fighting for stipends — this is about respect and dignity.”
Her father, advocate Gurmel Singh, visited the protest site. “The state and the university are failing these students,” he said.
Support is swelling from across the state — including farmers, opposition leaders, and alumni.
Government hedges, students dig in
Students claim Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda had assured them on June 25 that the V-C would be sent on leave for six months and action taken against accused staff. No such move has materialized.
“There is a view in higher circles that the Vice-Chancellor was not directly involved,” a senior official was quoted as saying, adding that the government fears setting a precedent of student-led ousters.
The stipend and LDV flashpoints
The stipend issue remains unresolved. Students allege the university has slashed postgraduate and PhD stipends, threatening their futures. Officials, however, cite financial constraints and argue for merit-based allocation.
Another flashpoint is the proposed tweak to the LDV (Land Donation Village) reservation policy. Currently, students from villages that donated land to the university enjoy admissions preference.
The administration wants to limit this benefit to one student per village per course level — a move students say will unfairly penalize them.
The students have called for a complete university shutdown on July 2. While the administration has put both the stipend and LDV revisions on hold, the core demands — criminal accountability and the Vice-Chancellor’s exit — remain non-negotiable.
“We came here for education,” said Shreya. “But now, we’re fighting to be heard.”
