The return of Vice-Chancellor P Appa Rao sparked off fresh trouble in the University of Hyderabad on Tuesday. It was high tension on the campus as students clashed with police, who in turn resorted to lathi charge and took some of them into custody.
The VC, after assuming charge, was scheduled to address a press conference at 11.30 am. A group of agitating students barged in and ransacked his official residence in protest against his rejoining, alleging that he was responsible for Dalit scholar Rohit Vemula’s suicide, and should step down from his post.
Rao had gone on long leave after Vemula committed suicide following his suspension from the hostel along with some other students of Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) as part of disciplinary action in January.
In the melee that followed, agitating students targeted Chief Proctor Alok Pandey, who was injured and taken to hospital.
Some of the media persons present there also attracted the wrath of the students and were pushed aside. The tension continued till late in the evening even as police forcibly evacuated the agitating students from the campus and took them into custody.
The ASA has called for a State-wide bandh on Wednesday in protest against the VC and police lathi charge on students in the campus.
Appa Rao’s pleaAppa Rao, who was not allowed to address the media, said in a statement that the appointment orders of VC, deans, heads and EC members are issued as per the statutes.
“It is not correct to obstruct anybody from performing duties until proved guilty by the accepted judicial practices. If we interfere with the legitimate rights of individuals…we are disrespecting our Constitution, which has given fundamental rights to individuals,” he said.
Meanwhile, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar is scheduled to visit the Hyderabad University campus on Wednesday to participate in a condolence meeting for Vemula.