Aasim Khan, Uttar Pradesh: A pin-up poster, a few books scattered on the table and political graffiti - it may sound like any other room in a boys hostel, but the bullet marks on the walls have a different story to tell.

The five occupants of Room No 12 at Ambedkar Boys hostel, in Chaudhry Charan Singh University, Meerut, had a close shave when they were attacked.

"A few students along with some outsiders attacked us and fired around seven to eight rounds at us," says one of the students who was attacked.

A minor scuffle over a volley ball game triggered the shootout incident. Two students of the hostel are now behind bars, on charges of attempt to murder of five of their own hostel-mates.

In the predominantly Dalit hostel, utter neglect has bred violence and fierce resentment.

"There is no boundary wall around the hostel and goons from neighbouring areas often come inside," explains a student.

While hooliganism might be a reality in all UP hostels, it makes life worse for the Dalit students from poor families who often live segregated in the so-called Ambedakar Hostels.

Officially there is no caste based allotment of rooms but unofficially Ambedakar Hostels are the domain of the Dalit students and perhaps that is why the rooms in these hostels are the most neglected in the entire campus.

The Ambedkar Boys hostel is a case in point. Inaugurated a few years ago by a prominent Dalit leader of the country, the hostel has very few facilities.

The taps run dry through the summer months, electric boards are broken, the phone lines are dead and students say that the complaint box is never opened.

"I have never seen this complaint box being checked," claims a student.

The study room is devoid of books and the year-long dust gathered on them are wiped only once a year before April 14 - on Ambedkar's birthday.

"On April 14, the authorities clean up the place and garland the picture of Ambedkar, but on other days nobody cares," says another student.

"When the students have the same course, same syllabus and attend the same classes, why must they be divided and put into different hostels based on their castes?" asks Dalit activist, Ratan Lal.

There are no easy answers to Ratan Lal's question. The Dalit hostel is almost a metaphor of the Dalit community in India - ostracised, neglected, denied the basics. And behind the bullet-ridden walls, only strong resentment can grow.