GORAKHPUR, July 27 -- Stepping up the demand for the restoration of student union elections in universities and degree colleges, a student leader from Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Gorakhpur University staged a dramatic symbolic protest on Saturday. Divyanshu Pandey, the protesting student, lay in a grave-like structure in a symbolic 'samadhi' to mark what he called the "death of democracy" in campus politics. After hours of protest, his health deteriorated and he was admitted to a hospital. The unusual form of protest drew attention just a day ahead of a major convention of former student union office-bearers from various universities and colleges, scheduled for Sunday. The programme aims to intensify the demand for early student union elections. Speaking to media persons on Saturday, Devendra Pratap Singh, former president of student union at DDU and BJP MLC, termed the ban on student union elections a "historic mistake", despite the Lyngdoh Commission's recommendations. HTC...