The Vice Chancellor was attacked, allegedly by radical saffron groups.
Fifteen men belonging to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal have been arrested for the attack on Jawahar Lal Kaul, Vice-Chancellor of Ujjain's Vikram University.
Mr Kaul had asked his students to help the flood-hit people from J&K and landlords to waive rent for Kashmiri students, and the radical right-wing activists had objections to that. And despite the arrest, they are defiant.
On Monday, the group had barged into the VC's room and went on a ransacking spree. Mr Kaul had to be hospitalised for a day thereafter. (Read:
Ujjain University Vice Chancellor Attacked by Saffron Men for his Help J&K Appeal, 2 Arrested)
The incident caused an uproar, with the university shutting down for a day. The Congress had gheraoed the Superintendent of Police, asking for immediate action.
The incident has brought back memories of Ujjain's Professor HS Sabharwal, who had died of cardiac arrest eight years ago after he was allegedly manhandled by workers of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. But all the accused were let off by the court for want of evidence.
Today, the police arrested the men after identifying them from the CCTV footage of the VC's office. But the arrested men certainly have no regrets.
"We object to the VC's statement that Hindu families here should not take rent from Kashmiri Muslim students because of the floods. We are embarrassed by what happened on Monday, but certainly not apologetic," said arrested Bajrang Dal Leader Hemant Singh.
"I am satisfied with the way the police and the administration handled my case", Mr Kaul said. "The VHP and Bajrang Dal claimed we did not help the Uttarakhand flood victims. They are misinformed, as the university staff had contributed a day's salary for the Prime Minister's relief fund."
The 50-odd Kashmiri students of Vikram University, meanwhile, have a lot to worry about - not just about the welfare of their families back home, but also their dire financial condition. Unless things improve, many fear they might have to discontinue their studies.
Tariq Ahmed, a PhD student who spoke to his family today after a fortnight, said they have sustained huge losses due to the floods.
"We are managing our expenses here by borrowing from each other. Some had to sell off their electronic gadgets and mobiles," Mr Ahmed said. "On Saturday, we asked the VC for help. But the reaction to his appeal has shocked us. He did not to anything wrong."