To prevent any violence or agitation in the university office, however, the authorities had closed the collapsible gate, and the memo had to be passed through the bars.

The rally was supported by teachers of the tuition classes and the Maharaja Sayajraoi University students' parents' association.

Demanding that the teachers refrain from declaring it a `zero year' the students said if the teachers were not ready to conduct classes in the classrooms, they should think of an alternative and not force the students to lose a semester.

They said they would resort to violence if the teachers did not call off their strike by Saturday. Meanwhile, members of the Baroda University Teachers Association have decided to go on a token hunger strike on Friday as a part of their agitation.