Violence at HCU: 25 students, 2 faculty members arrested

Twenty-five students and two faculty members of Hyderabad Central University were arrested on Wednesday in connection with incidents of ransacking of Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile’s lodge and stone pelting on police personnel, police said.

According to Gachibowli police inspector J Ramesh, so far two cases have been booked on charges of damage to public property, trespass and preventing government officials from performing their duties and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code in connection with Tuesday’s incidents.

“Twenty-seven persons were arrested in connection with both the incidents. Twenty-five students and two faculty members,” Ramesh said.

All the accused will be produced in a court soon, he added.

Students on Tuesday had vandalised the official residence of HCU vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile and police had to lathi-charge a group of students during their protest against him resuming charge after a two-month leave in the wake of suicide by Rohit Vemula on January 17.

Meanwhile, National Students Union of India, President Roji M John in a statement alleged that the protesting students have been taken to unknown locations by the police and aren’t traceable.

“Our fight will not stop till our demands are met. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and VC Prof Appa Rao should be punished for Rohith’s death. We demand the immediate arrest of Prof Appa Rao who has been booked under the SC/ST atrocities Act. We will continue till a Rohith Law is enacted,” he said.

As dining halls in the HCU remain closed due to strike by non-teaching staff, students resorted to cooking in the open area.

“By denying drinking water, food, cutting internet and keeping the media out, the government is playing dirty politics on the campus. This behaviour of the government is reflecting its inhuman, violent and fascist face,” the NSUI leader added.

Image: Students of Hyderabad Central University demanding justice for Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, holding a protest demonstration against the University VC in Hyderabad. Photograph: PTI