HCU row: Vemula's family demands immediate release of those arrested
Hyderabad: Radhika Vemula, mother of deceased Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula on Friday demanded immediate, unconditional release of 25 students and two faculty members of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) who were arrested in connection with vandalism and stone pelting.
"We demand immediate and unconditional release of all those who were arrested and sent to jail, and withdrawal of cases against them. They (students) were asking for justice for Rohit (during the protest near VC's lodge)...but were beaten up brutally by police," Rohit's mother Radhika and brother Raja, along with certain teachers of HCU and parents of some of the arrested students, told reporters.
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They also sought immediate arrest of HCU Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile, stating that there was a case registered against him for abetment of Rohit's suicide.
"How can Appa Rao resume his duty when a case is already registered against him? Over two months have passed since registration of the case, but no one has (either) been questioned or arrested," Radhika said, adding that cases were registered against students who were arrested and jailed.
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"How many more days we have to wait for justice for Rohit? "Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani calls Rohit a child in Parliament, but she and the BJP government (at Centre) is not listening to and considering our requests seeking action against those responsible for Rohit's death," they said.
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"If I question the government, will I be called anti-national as well?" Raja asked.
P Anupama, a faculty member of HCU said, "The teachers of HCU are extremely distressed at the recent turn of events on the campus."
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She said Podile's return to the campus on March 22 to resume duties has come as a shock to majority of the varsity community.
"We demand release of all arrested students and faculty and withdrawal of charges. The police must be immediately asked to leave the campus and we demand independent enquiry into the incidents that happened on March 22," Anupama and other teachers said.
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A local court has posted the hearing on the bail pleas of the arrested students and the faculty members on March 28.
