HCU row: Amnesty takes up police torture of female students

Thiruvananthapuram: The police brutalities on the protesting students and faculty members of the University of Hyderabad have come to the notice of Amnesty International which has demanded a probe and stringent action against the culprits.

Ms Vaikhari Aryat, a Malayali studying in the university,  in her Facebook post had alleged torture and molestation of female students and staff  by the Telangana police on the campus on  March 22.

“Male police brutally grabbed, molested, tossed and beat female students and faculty members alike. Female staff  were grabbed by their hair and dragged into vans. Male students were swept inside the van and were beaten without mercy,” said Ms Aryat  in her  post.

Amnesty has also demanded the immediate release of those arrested by the Telangana police for protesting against the return of  Vice-Chancellor P. Appa Roa whom they hold responsible for the suicide of a Dalit student, Rohit Vemula, in January.

Mr  Aakar Patel, executive director of Amnesty International India,  taking note of the post has demanded an independent investigation into the allegations of excesses by the police.
 

“Violence against protesting students in a university cannot under any circumstance be justified. Allegations of sexual violence and threats by the police to women students must be investigated and those suspected of being responsible must be prosecuted,” he said. “Any protesters who can legitimately be charged with  acts of violence or vandalism must be prosecuted and tried in proceedings which meet international fair trial standards,” Mr Patel said.