MP schools, colleges shut for Sabharwal

Ujjain: Most educational institutions and business establishments remained closed across Madhya Pradesh on Teacher's Day on Tuesday.

However, there was mild tension in some places during a Congress-sponsored bandh to demand a CBI probe into Professor H S Sabharwal's death in Ujjain last week.

As rest of the country celebrated the Day, Congress and NSU (I) activists fanned out in Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabbalpur and Ujjain.

They asked shop owners to down their shutters, accusing the ruling BJP in the state of trying to "shield" those responsible for the professor's death on August 26 during a college election.

Barring stray incidents of skirmishes between ABVP supporters, opposing closure of shops, and NSU (I) activists in Jabalpur and adjoining areas, the day-long strike remained peaceful amidst elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident.

"The situation is peaceful and no violence has so far been reported from any place in the state," Police said citing reports reaching Bhopal from different districts.

Commercial centres, business hubs and market places in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur presented a deserted look as Congress workers were seen mobilising support in favour of the bandh and shouting slogans against the state authorities.

Schools, colleges and other educational institutions, barring government run ones, remained close.

There was hardly any attendance in government-run schools as students stayed home fearing trouble.

While Government offices reported thinner attendance, several banks opened after noon. Essential services like hospitals, railways and public transport were kept out of the bandh's purview.

Claiming that the bandh was a success, state Congress spokesman Manak Aggarwal said "it is complete and peaceful throughout the state".

Similar incidents were also reported from Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and certain other places in the state as part of the day-long bandh.

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A report from Ujjain, where Sabbarwal died on August 26, however, spoke of certain business establishments and banks opening after mid-day.

"We have asked out workers to ensure that the bandh remains peaceful and to refrain from using any form of force for closure of shops and markets," Aggarwal said.

Meanwhile, taking a lesson from the Sabharwal episode, the teachers of Lucknow University have refused to participate in forthcoming student's union elections process, which has a long history of violence.

This is to protest the brutal incident which led to the death of Professor Sabharwal in Ujjain, LUTA president Professor D P Tiwari said.

In Ujjain, Congress workers were seen asking shopkeepers and business establishments to down their shutters since morning while in Gwalior partymen had taken out a 'mashaal' procession last night in support of their cause.

CPI and NCP have also extended support to the Congress-sponsored bandh.

In a bid to mobilise support for their party's stand, senior Congress leaders, including AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh and MP Jyotiraditya Scindia are visiting Ujjain during the day.

Though public transport was exempted from the bandh, very few people were seen on the streets and the number of buses and auto-rickshaws on roads were also less than normal.