New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to examine CCTV footage related to an alleged incident in which a lizard was found in a student’s bowl of pulses at one of its school hostels Sunday. The university has also sought assistance from govt investigating agencies to establish the facts surrounding the incident.The move comes after CCTV footage appeared to show a resident of Jamia Boys’ School Hostel taking his bowl of pulses under a mess table, following which a group of students created a commotion alleging that a lizard was found in the food, Jamia stated Monday.The committee has been tasked with examining the entire footage, the circumstances leading up to the incident and the actions and roles of those involved. It will also determine whether the incident involved any deliberate attempt to disrupt the hostel mess or bring disrepute to the university, Jamia said.The administration said appropriate action would be taken if deliberate wrongdoing, fabrication, misinformation or other misconduct was established.A video of the alleged incident was widely circulated on social media and residents gathered at the vice-chancellor’s office late at night, demanding an inspection of the mess, cancellation of the mess contract and an assurance that no action would be taken against the protesters. The protest was called off after the administration agreed to their demands.Another protest by residents of J&K Women’s Hostel over insects allegedly found in mess food a few days ago was called off late Sunday night after the administration’s assurances.As a measure aimed at strengthening monitoring of food preparation and hygiene, the university has decided to install additional CCTV cameras in all hostel messes and their respective kitchens. The surveillance system will monitor food preparation, catering and related activities in the areas round the clock, it said.JMI said food quality and hygiene in its hostel messes were routinely monitored by provosts, wardens, caretakers and mess committees comprising hostel residents.The administration expressed concern over what it described as attempts to disrupt hostel and academic activities through “unsubstantiated allegations” and the circulation of reels and videos on social media. It urged students not to circulate unverified material and said genuine complaints relating to food quality, hygiene or hostel facilities would be addressed on priority.
