Students, police clash at Hyderabad varsity; V-C’s residence vandalised

HYDERABAD: Clashes broke out between protesting students and the police on the University of Hyderabad campus on Tuesday evening. A few students and policemen were injured in the clashes outside the bungalow of Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile, where the students had been protesting since morning, as he resumed duties after nearly a two-month-long leave.

Students of Hyderabad Central University demanding justice for dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, holding a protest demonstration against the University VC in Hyderabad on Tuesday. PTI photo

Hyderabad, March 22

Clashes broke out between protesting students and the police on the University of Hyderabad campus on Tuesday evening.

A few students and policemen were injured in the clashes outside the bungalow of Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile, where the students had been protesting since morning, as he resumed duties after nearly a two-month-long leave.

Podile had gone on leave at the height of an agitation over the suicide of research scholar Rohith Vemula on January 17. Today morning he resumed charge amid protests from a section of students, who ransacked his official residence leading to tension on the campus.

Raising slogans against the Vice-Chancellor, students barged into his residence (Vice-Chancellor's lodge), broke window panes, smashed doors and television among other items, protesting against his resumption of duty.

Violence broke out in the evening as the police used force to disperse the students. Television visuals show policemen and women dragging the students, some by their hair, thrashing them and beating them up with batons.

One policeman was also injured when students pelted stones.

The police bundled out many students out of the campus, triggering strong protest by teaching and non-teaching staff members. The police also arrested few students and faculty members.

Additional forces, including personnel of paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF), rushed to the campus.

Security was further tightened amid reports that Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader Kanahiya Kumar will be visiting the campus to pay tributes to Rohith Vemula, the Dalit research scholar who committed suicide in January this year.

A section of students alleged that Appa Rao was sent back to prevent Kanahiya Kumar’s visit to the university.

Podile, who is in the eye of a storm over Vemula's suicide on January 17, had proceeded on leave on January 24 as the agitating students demanded his resignation and held vigorous protests seeking "justice" for Vemula. — Agencies