HYDERABAD: After the incident of a masked intruder scaring the wits out of inmates of the women’s hostel on the Osmania University campus on Saturday night, many women hostellers have decided to put their foot down.Around 200 students conducted a dharna at the university on Sunday so the authorities would finally take notice. “We have been facing a large number of problems at the hostel. There is no proper security, no water facility and the food served is bad. We also have drainage problems. And when it comes to health, there is just one doctor who comes for an hour of consultation. How can one hour suffice for around 3000 students in the girls’ hostel?” questions B Satyavathi, president of the Progressive Democratic Student Union (PDSU). She further adds, “There are no proper amenities. We don’t have a single strip of medicine available, not even a basic drug like Crocin.” While Satyavathi was quite vocal about the problems and decided enough was enough, there were others who have forgot the incident and decided to continue with their daily routine. When one enters the hostel premises, it is a normal day for many- some busy making last-minute exam preparations, others whiling away time or running daily errands. When asked about the incident and the problems they face, most refused to comment. It seemed like they are completely oblivious to the situation. A watchman, who works on alternate days at the girls’ hostel, said on the condition of anonymity, “Everyone knows about the problems, right from the warden to the higher-ups. But nobody is willing to take action.” Satyavathi said they have been complaining about their problems for a long time but to no avail. “We have talked to the university authorities umpteen number of times but met no response. Because of this incident, everything has come out in the open and they have promised to conduct a meeting on June 21. They also arranged for additional security in the area where the thief entered from,” adds Satyavathi.But the temporary opening made in the compound wall through which the intruder must have sneaked in has still not been closed. Meanwhile, Osmania University police registered a case under Section 380 (theft) based on the complaint filed by a student of the hostel. “Only one mobile phone was allegedly stolen,” OU police inspector P Ashok said. Police suspect the inmates raised a false alarm to highlight the lack of basic amenities. “The mobile phone was traced to Orissa and it seems the complaint of the missing mobile phone is false,” a police officer said.
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