Patna, Dec. 29: The death of a boarder has taken Patna University authorities out of their torpor about the plethora of problems plaguing the varsity’s hostels. To begin with, the university has decided to crack the whip and prevent forcible collection of subscriptions — a common practice in the hostels — during Saraswati Puja in January.

Kriteshwar Prasad, proctor, Patna University, told The Telegraph: “There will be no forcible collection of subscription this year. Hostel superintendents will keep a tab on the students’ activity.”

The move comes after Dilip Kumar, a postgraduate student of Patna University and an illegal boarder at Saidpur Hostel Number-2, was murdered on December 27 after a booze party in his room.

Saraswati Puja, a grand affair in the hostels, is scheduled for January 28. Sources said boarders often go overboard to organise Saraswati Puja.

Explaining the excesses during the puja, Patna Science College student Tanmay Krishan said: “The hostel prefect fixes a certain amount that students have to pay. If one refuses, the boarders create problems for him.”

The organisers often force residents and shopkeepers near the hostels to cough up money. They also stop commuters on Ashok Rajpath, outside the Patna University main campus. Refusal to satisfy the demands of the unruly students results in altercations and clashes.

Shambhu Das, the owner of a sweet shop on Ashok Rajpath, said: “The hostel boarders fix a certain amount — say Rs 1,000 — that shopkeepers have to pay. If we refuse, students create trouble for us.”

The festive sprit is often overpowered by alcoholic spirits. The money collected with strongarm tactics is usually spent on liquor.

A senior Patna College teacher said: “It is well-known that boarders spend the money to organise booze parties.”

A student had died last year after falling off the first floor of Minto Hostel, after such a booze party

This year, however, all the free-run could be brought to a grinding halt. The varsity proctor said: “The hostel superintendents will fix a certain amount which students would pay as puja subscription. They will not be allowed to collect money from shops or commuters on Ashok Rajpath.”