Mangaluru: The renowned education institution of the city St Aloysius College (Autonomous), has been granted the status of a university, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education, Government of India, approving of the proposal by the college administration board.

Addressing a press meet on Thursday, Fr Melwin J Pinto, who is the Rector, and Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, the Principal of the College, said that the autonomous college will be called 'St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) Mangaluru', starting January 25, 2024.

Expressing delight at the unique opportunity provided to serve the cause of higher education, they said, "The UGC and the Ministry of Education, after making a thorough study of the College proposal on various parameters like physical and digital infrastructure, curricular design, research and innovation, graduate outcomes, student attainment levels, placements, vision and mission of the institution and its impact on the society along with the considerations of the higher levels of successive NAAC accreditations, NIRF and distinctive rankings and achievements, has granted the university status to the College."

The rector and the principal added, "This status enables the institution to create a sustainable ecosystem driven by globally competitive curricula, high-end research, innovations and entrepreneurship initiatives.

It provides unprecedented opportunities to explore possibilities for robust collaborations with regional, national and global partners to facilitate interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies with joint and twinning programmes providing cross cultural learning exposure to students."

St Aloysius College, which was established in 1880 by Jesuit fathers, has been a premier higher education institution on account of its distinctive achievements of serving the local youth and moulding them into people with qualities of commitment, competence, compassion and conscience. The College, having a national and global presence, earned an autonomous status in 2007 and has continued working at setting higher benchmarks in all criteria related to higher education. It has also consistently maintained top notch credentials in all the four cycles of NAAC accreditations at the national level reaching A++ grade with a CGPA of 3.67 out of 4 and NIRF rankings showing the College within the top 100 Colleges for 3 consecutive terms, they said.

Calling the new status granted to the College the result of the dedicated and tireless efforts of the management, staff, students and all stakeholders who shared the long and sustained dream of the well-deserved status of a university, Fr. Pinto and Dr. Martis added, "As the College embarks on a new and exciting journey spearheading its educational endeavours towards creating men and women for and with others, it places on record its immense gratitude to all the collaborators, men and women of goodwill, esteemed alumni and recommits itself to serve the society with greater dedication and take utmost efforts to create a difference in the society."

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Sambhal (UP) (PTI): The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders till November 30 after three men were killed and scores of others, including security and administration personnel, injured in a violence by protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque.

The order has been issued under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), said District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya late on Sunday.

"No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer," said the order, which came into force with immediate effect.

Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS.

Violence broke out in the district on Sunday as protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with security personnel. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.

Divisional Commissioner (Moradabad) Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said on Sunday, "Shots were fired by miscreants... the PRO of the superintendent of police suffered a gunshot to the leg, the circle officer was hit by pellets and 15 to 20 security personnel were injured in the violence."

A constable also suffered a serious head injury while the deputy collector fractured his leg.

"Three people, identified as Naeem, Bilal and Nauman, have been killed," Singh said.

Twenty-one people, including two women, have been detained and a probe has been launched, the official had said, adding that those accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said, "The casualty count stands at three. The reason for the deaths of two is clear -- bullet wounds from countrymade pistols. The reason for the death of the third person is not clear but it will be after post-mortem."

Internet services were soon suspended in Sambhal tehsil for 24 hours and the district administration declared a holiday in all schools for Monday.

Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.

Trouble started early on Sunday when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work.

District officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday to avoid interference with afternoon prayers.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is a petitioner in the case, had earlier said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an "advocate commission" to survey the mosque.

The court has said a report should be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.

On Sunday, Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India to take control of the "temple".

Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, had earlier claimed the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.