Hyderabad: Twenty more Hyderabad Central University students have been booked by the Gachibowli police for the violence at the Vice Chancellor’s lodge on last Wednesday, apart from those who have been arrested.
Students have been protesting since Tuesday after Vice Chancellor Appa Rap Podile came back from a two-month leave following Dalit student Rohith Vemula's suicide.
Furious students staged a protest against Appa Rao and vandalised his official residence. Students broke into Rao's office, vandalised and ransacked the premises while maintaining their demand of his resignation.
A remand diary prepared by the police has names of girl students who claimed they were not present at the spot. Cyberabad police is yet to confirm if they are going to arrest 14 other students. One of the girl students named in the FIR, who is yet to be arrested, argued that the charges against girl students were false. “These students did not damage any furniture nor attack any cop. They added the names by taking details from our rivals,’’ she said but did not want to be named.
The police contends that the arrested students should remain in custody to avoid law and order issues at the university. There is a possibility that they will rejoin the protests, police said. In the remand report, police argued that if the arrested students are given bail, they would escape.
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“Since most accused belong to other states and districts, they might escape from Hyderabad and the court cannot ensure their presence. The students are without any moveable and immovable property in Hyderabad. It is possible that the students might rejoin the agitation and create law and order problems,” said the report filed by Gachibowli sub-inspector K. Naveen Kumar.
Regarding the presence of ABVP students inside the VC’s residence at the time of vandalism, police said in the report, “Sensing the mood of the accused, some students and non-teaching staff came from behind the building and stood protecting the VC and others.”
All the 25 arrested students and two faculty members are now in judicial remand. The court will hear their bail plea on Monday. The Joint Action Committee has alleged that the names of students were given to the police by ABVP members be added to the FIR.
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Kin of protesters unaware of arrests
The family of Prof. Konda Yesu Ratnam of the UoH came to know only on Wednesday that he had been arrested the previous day. He was trying to talk to the students during the violence at the VC’s lodge when he was picked up, his colleagues said. The professor’s wife, Jaya Ratnam, came to know of his arrest through the media. The couple has two children, studying in Classes 9 and 7. The police did not bother to inform his family, or the kin of any of those who were arrested on March 22.
Ms Jaya Ratnam rushed to the campus, where the university security officer told her that there was no need for worry and Prof. Ratnam would return in the evening. She went to the police where, she alleged, she received rude replies. It was only on Friday that she got clarity through the media and plans to meet her husband on Saturday in jail.
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A professor said, “Prof Ratnam was not protesting with students. Rather he was trying to be a bridge between the police and students to avoid any confrontation but he was picked up.” The family of Mohammad Shah from Kerala, a comparative literature student and son of a construction worker, found out his arrest only after calling a professor on Thursday.
His sister, R. Hiba, said, “We came to know of the arrest only after we contacted one of the professors and a friend of Shah in Kerala. Our parents were worried but after speaking with the professor they are relieved. Neither they nor I am angry with Shah. He was fighting for justice and we support him. If he does not get bail on Monday, my father may visit Hyderabad.”
University of Hyderabad seeks parents support
The University of Hyderabad issued a media release on Friday night, urging parents to advise their children “...to avoid any activity that will affect the reputation of the institution from which they wish to graduate.” The university, it said, “is committed to freedom of speech and expression, and differences of opinion and dissent are not discouraged the university, it will “certainly not take kindly to vandalism and other acts of indiscipline.” “The current semester is drawing to a close and end-semester examinations will begin soon. Afterwards, several students will graduate and step out into the world in search of a meaningful life. The university seeks co-operation of parents and students in particular in the smooth functioning of the university,” it said.
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The release said the university has set up a mechanism for grievance redressal at all stages of administration and requests parents to remain in touch with their wards and encourage them to seek redressal through those mechanisms. It also said the students should feel free to approach their mentees/heads to talk to them about any anxiety or problems. “UoH will always be there for students and will not shirk its responsibility towards them,” it said.
