Leading dalit and human rights activist call for hyderabad varsity vc’s suspension, criminal investigation into the police action.
New Delhi: In another damning statement against police action and the administrative role at Hyderabad Central University, the report of an independent fact-finding team said, “Violent attack by police and forceful detention of students was used to suppress the protests at Hyderabad Central University”. Put together by leading Dalit and human rights activists from across the country, the team launched a scathing attack on the authorities of the HCU, saying “brute force by police and state apparatus was the only way by which the administration sought to restore in office” the Vice Chancellor Podile Apparao whom the team called “the prime accused of being responsible for the suicide of Rohith Vemula”. It also called for a “criminal investigation” into the actions of the police. The team comprised activists, academicians and lawyer such as Paul Divakar, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights, Asha Kowtal, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, Burnard Fatima, International Movement Against Discrimination and Racism, among others. The key interim findings of the report call the Appa Rao’s return “pre-planned with details chalked out with his supporter students and faculty, which triggered the escalation of violence”. The administration has tried attributing part of this violence to the protesting students, alleging that they broke windows and manhandled, the non teaching staff. The report noted that Appa Rao has a case pending against him in the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, with regard to Vemula’s death. No action has been taken against him and “the role of the MHRD in his reinstatement… was not transparent”. “It has also been observed that the Union Minister Shri Dattatreya and Sushil Kumar also have not been arrested after being booked for non-bailable offences. This inaction of the state, central government has contributed to this situation,” said the report. It went on to say, “Disruption of the Campus: The return of the Vice Chancellor, Appa Rao, who had proceeded on indefinite leave triggered the disruption of peace on campus. According to the Home Minister, VC Appa Rao expressed a desire to the Minister to return to the campus and was strongly advised against it by the Police Commissioner and the Home Minister, saying that it would cause disruption of University. In spite of the Home Ministry’s advice he chose to return to the university.”
Concerning police violence and negligence it took note of the fact that “Widespread assault of women students and abusive language and threats to rape the women students were heard from the police” and that minority students were targeted and called “terrorists”. The police did not present those arrested before a magistrate within 24 hours of their arrest.
The team called for the suspension of Appa Rao, to restore a peaceful environment to the university and a fair investigation. It raised the trauma and fear students are living with on campus and the fact that the team was not allowed to meet the VC himself, who denied all requests for interviews. The team was also not allowed on campus, just the Amnesty India, which issued a statement on Friday, wasn’t. Even parents are not allowed inside campus premises, local reporters on the spot told dna. Students can only meet their parents outside the gates. The only official word from the university is the a report the Registrar submitted to the state Human Rights Commission (APSHRC), identical to a statement he gave to the press two days ago, which lays responsibility for no food or internet services on campus on a strike by the non-teaching staff after a “brutal attack” on them.
Source: DNA
