April 01, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1429

KARACHI, March 31: A professor of the applied chemistry department at the University of Karachi was severely beaten up by Rangers personnel on the campus on Monday afternoon, university officials told Dawn.

The incident took place following the tightening of security by university authorities after a clash between two rival groups of students.

KU campus adviser Dr Majeedullah Qadri told Dawn that Prof (Dr) Riaz Ahmed of the applied chemistry department was beaten up by the Rangers.

“Security was tightened and the campus gates were closed to outsiders after two student groups clashed with each other at around 1.30pm,” he said.

A few hours later, Prof Ahmed was stopped by Rangers personnel when he was leaving the campus through what is known as the Silver Jubilee Gate, Dr Qadri said.

“He tried to explain that he should not be stopped as he is a teacher. At this, the Rangers personnel misbehaved and started beating him up.”

He said when he reached the spot he found Rangers Commandant Colonel Iftikhar present there and Dr Ahmed had been beaten up “quite badly”.

KU Vice-Chancellor Dr Pirzada Qasim also reached the place of incident and later called the Rangers’ commandant to his office. The VC reportedly told the commandant to take immediate action against those involved and said that the university administration would not tolerate misconduct with teachers.

Colonel Iftikhar told Dawn that he could not comment on the issue as he was conducting an inquiry. However, the campus security adviser said that four Rangers personnel involved in the incident had been suspended. They had been put in the ‘campus jail’, he added.

Meanwhile, university teachers announced a boycott of classes on Tuesday in protest against the incident. “Karachi University Teachers Society has called an emergency meeting on Tuesday in which the future line of action will be decided,” said a KUTS spokesman.