The family of deceased dalit scholar Rohith Vemula and the Congress on Friday demanded the immediate release of 25 students and two faculty members of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) arrested in co
The family of deceased dalit scholar Rohith Vemula and the Congress on Friday demanded the immediate release of 25 students and two faculty members of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) arrested in connection with the violence at the campus.
Rohith’s mother Radhika and brother Raja, while demanding the unconditional release of the arrested people, also sought immediate arrest of HCU vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile, stating there was a case registered against him for abetment of the scholar’s suicide.
Telangana Congress president N. Uttamkumar Reddy, who visited the students and teachers arrested on March 23 in connection with alleged attack on the VC’s office the previous day at the Cherlapally Prison here, alleged the Union and Telangana Governments have adopted a dictatorial attitude towards the HCU students and playing with their lives. “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 Rohith (during the protest near VC’s lodge)...But were beaten up brutally by police,” Rohith’s mother Radhika and brother Raja, along with certain teachers of HCU and parents of some of the arrested students, told reporters.
“A case is already registered against Appa Rao and how can he resume his duty Over two months have passed since registration of the case, but no one has (either) been questioned or arrested,” Radhika said, adding, cases were registered against students who were arrested and jailed.
“How many more days we have to wait for justice for Rohith ...If I question government, will I be called as anti-national,” Raja asked. P. Anupama, a faculty member of HCU said, “We the concerned teachers of HCU are extremely distressed at the recent turn of events on the campus.” “We demand release of all arrested students and faculty and withdrawal of charges. The police must be asked to leave the campus,” Ms Anupama said. A local court has posted the hearing on the bail pleas of the arrested students and the faculty members on March 28.
