Bail Granted, the Struggle Continues

A local court on Monday granted bail to 25 students and two faculty members of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) who were arrested in connection with the alleged violence on the campus last week after return of the Vice Chancellor Appa Rao. The students and the two faculty members were released on their submission of sureties of Rs 5,000 each. The court also directed them to appear before Gachibowli Station House Officer once in a week. The police violence was unleashed on the peaceful protesters on the 22nd March, followed by arrests of 27 students and 2 faculty members. In a complete violation of basic human rights, the university administration denied access to food, water, electricity and even freedom of movement to students for the next two days, imprisoning them within their own university. As if this was not enough, those arrested were beaten up even in the police custody and even after remand, while the witch-hunt of students and militarization of the campus continues to this moment.

The university campus was thrown out of gear on March 22 when Rao resumed office after a two-month leave following the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. Students alleged Rao was responsible for Vemula’s suicide, and demanded his immediate arrest. Appa Rao’s return was viewed as an unprecedented move with the specific backing of the Modi government at the Centre since an MHRD inquiry against him is still on. The university registrar had suspended classes till March 28 due to the ensuing violence. Appa Rao belongs to the powerful Kamma caste, which is speculated to be one of the reasons behind the support he has found from the powers that be in Delhi. 

Image Courtesy: youtube.com

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice that is pursuing Vemula’s case, however, asked students to resume their academic schedule while protesting as the semester was ending and this is a crucial time for them. “We appeal to the students to use blue ribbons as a means of protest, declaration and reminder of the fact that our fight is still on while going about their classes, labs and other activities.” There have been serious concerns about the blockade link atmosphere within the HCU/UOH. See More…. https://sabrangindia.in/article/victory-now-resistance-continues-hyderabad-central-university-hcu

The SC and ST Faculty Forum and Concerned Teachers of the University of Hyderabad had previously issued a statement citing systematic discrimination faced by students from the marginalized communities in HCU. The also narrated the brutality faced by the arrested students. The Statement said,

“For the past three days the news media has been widely circulating stories about ‘vandalism’ by students of the University of Hyderabad that led to the police crackdown. Surprisingly little information is actually there on the actual context, timing, duration and nature of the vandalism. It appears that the claim that a group of students indulged in acts of vandalism is enough to justify a full scale war on the entire campus community of over 4000 students. Yet this charge of vandalism is no more than a fig leaf.

Mera name plate dekhega? Chal main tere ku sabak sikhata hoon!

You dare look at my name badge? Let me teach you a lesson.

Naam kya hai tera? Acchaa tu Pakistani hai. Chal main tere ku sabak sikhata hoon!

What is your name? Oh, you are a Pakistani? Let me teach you a lesson.

Tu kahaan ki rehne wali hai? Itti kaali hai! Aa tere ku sabak sikhata hoon!

Where are you from? You are so dark. Let me teach you a lesson.

Kiskaa fotu khenchraa re tu? Abhi bataata hoon tere ku!

Whose photo are you shooting? Let me show you…

The entire statement can be read at cindianculturalforum.in/index.php/2016/03/27/a-fig-leaf-called-vandalism/