Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 Source: Hindu, The (India) Copyright: 2014 The Hindu Contact: http://www.thehindu.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/874 GANG BEATS UP TRIO WHO PROTESTED AGAINST DRUG ABUSE IN MAHARAJA'S COLLEGE Hostel Residents Laid Siege To The Busy Hospital Road For Close To An Hour In Protest. Three inmates of Maharaja's College hostel were admitted to the General Hospital on Wednesday after they were beaten up by a gang of students from the same college allegedly as retaliation for campaigning against drug abuse on campus. Habeeb, a first year student of BA Politics; Subin, a first year student of BA Islamic History; and Bibin, a visually challenged second year student of BA Politics, have been admitted to the hospital. The hospital authorities have not commented on their condition. After taking the injured to the hospital, the hostel residents laid siege to the busy Hospital Road for close to an hour. They called off the protest after the police promised action against the guilty. Central Police said that two separate cases under various sections of Indian Penal Code had been registered for assaulting Habeeb and Bibin by a six-member gang. Police said the incident that happened in the college hostel was a possible retaliation for a protest march carried out by the residents of the college hostel against the use of drugs on campus. College principal Latha Raj said that an in-house staff squad of department heads had been formed to verify the allegations about the spread of drugs on campus. While the principal said the issue took place outside the hostel, police clarified that it took place in the hostel. However, the hostel warden appeared unaware about the happenings. He said though tension had been prevailing on the campus for a couple of days, it was almost resolved. However, hostel inmates on condition of anonymity said that a section of students under the influence of drugs had unleashed a reign of terror on the campus. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D