Even as Hyderabad Central University is trying hard to restore normalcy, Protests erupted again this morning at the University, which has been a volatile zone for the months over the suicide of PhD student Rohith Vemula in January.
Police stepped up security at the Hyderabad Central University on Wednesday in view of a Chalo HCU call as well as a protest organized by the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice (JACSJ).
Protesting students who demanded Vice Chancellor Appa Rao’s removal were taken into custody as they broke open the campus gates. The students had tried to approach Mr Rao’s office past heavy security and barricades.
Students demanded that the Vice Chancellor be kept out of the process to select an ombudsman alleging that “he is also under scrutiny” for his role in Mr Vemula’s suicide.
A lot of damage has been caused due to these protests. Majority of 857 non-teaching staff and 380 faculties did not work during the shutdown. Around 1 lakh man hours were lost due to the shut down.
It is to be noted that 26-year-old Rohith Vemula hanged himself on January 17, days after he was banned from the hostel and other areas on campus over clashes with an activist from a BJP-linked students’ group.