It is depressing to contemplate that not three days after a traffic accident took the life of a young female DU student, that this tragedy has apparently been forgotten, or at the very least overshadowed by the violence and vandalism that has engulfed the campus in its aftermath.

What we are now witnessing is little more than power politics being exercised by the cadres of the JCD, and the mourning for the deceased seems to have been pushed into the background. Essentially, the situation at present is that the campus has been taken over by ruling party affiliated activists who have imposed a reign of terror.

We should not have to point out that at this moment in time we have a democratically elected government with a duty to stamp out this kind of hooliganism. We are at a loss to understand the government's inaction over the past three days and urge it to take control of its activists and affiliates.

Similarly, we are disappointed at the toothless response from the DU authorities.

It seems that the fact that the violence is being perpetrated by ruling party men means that nothing can be done about it and that the relevant authorities' hands are tied. This is a tremendous blot on the record of the government and they must act quickly before the rot that is setting in on campus becomes irreversible.

Things have deteriorated rapidly. Students have been thrown out of their hostels and countless numbers have been beaten up. It is clear that the JCD has decided to take the opportunity to drive its rival activists from campus and to intimidate anyone who stands up to them.

The upshot is that normal university life is in ruins. We appeal to our political leaders: do not let politics destroy institutional life at DU. The damage being done to the nation and its future is incalculable, and the government must move to douse the flames before it is too late.