Students stage a dharna in Patna College on Thursday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Feb. 17: Boarders of various hostels of Patna University today staged a dharna in front of the administrative building of Patna College to protest the death of Chandrashekhar, a student.

Chandrashekhar, a boarder of Minto Hostel, fell from the hostel roof on February 8, and later succumbed to his injuries at Max Hospital in New Delhi, where he was taken after his condition deteriorated in a city hospital. He was student of the history department.

The students of Minto Hostel, Jackson Hostel, New Hostel, Iqbal Hostel and Nadvi Hostel disrupted classes at Patna College and demanded compensation for Chandrashekhar’s family. The demonstration was supported by All India Students’ Association (Aisa), of which Chandrashekhar was a member.

“Chandrashekhar died because of the apathetic attitude of the university and Patna Medical College and Hospital authorities. He was not provided medical attention on time,” said Abhuday, a student leader and Aisa member.

He added: “We requested them several times but PMCH authorities did not provide him any treatment. The hospital did not have a working CT Scan machine.”

The students were demanding that a compensation of Rs 10 lakh be paid to Chandrashekhar’s family and an inquiry into his death be conducted. They are also demanding an inquiry into the irregularities in the management of the varsity funds.

The demonstrators raised slogans against the university administration and closed the gates of the college. One of them said that though the university gets large funds from the University Grants Commission, the conditions of the hostels were pathetic. The floors are broken, the ceilings have cracks and the walls are dilapidated.

“Water leaks through the roof during rains. Grills and windows are in a bad shape. Accidents can happen anytime,” said Jackson Hostel boarder Anurag.

A source said the hostels were last painted in 2006, when Y.C. Simhadhari was the vice-chancellor of the university. No renovation has been done since then.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Minto Hostel inmates had clashed with students of Patna University and National Institute of Technology.

Patna College students had gone to the NIT campus, to close down the institution to protest Chandrashekar’s death.

But the protest turned violent and the students also attacked reporters who had gone to cover the incident.