This is to bring to your notice the gruesome attack of the police and the administration of University of Hyderabad on protesting students, and to urge you for appropriate action.
As you must be aware, the protests by the students of University of Hyderabad were triggered by the reinstatement of the Vice-Chancellor Prof. P. Appa Rao as if he has got nothing to do with whatever happened on the campus culminating in Rohit Vemula’s death. A more democratic government would have empathised with the feelings of the aggrieved communities of students and persuaded, nay, instructed the Vice-Chancellor to step down in order to assuage the felt hurt. The intensity with which the students reacted to the VC’s re-entry is an indication of their simmering discontent over his role.
Instead of anticipating and understanding the reaction of the students, the UoH administration and the Telangana Police acting on instructions from the state and central governments chose to address it as a criminal act and an issue of law and order. With such myopic vision, they further deteriorated the situation to the extent of creating absolute anarchy, disorder, physical and mental damage, curtailment of basic amenities to students as if it is a war zone and an alien land. The uncalled for violence has resulted in grievous injuries to students, one of whom is suffering in an intensive care unit. That the police did not even spare girl students is an indication of the seriousness of the orders that they have received from powers that be.
We, the concerned citizens and representatives of civil society organisations, hereby appeal to you to immediately intervene and take immediate action:
- Conduct an enquiry into the police brutality and bring the culprits to book
- Immediate and Unconditional withdrawal of charges from students and faculties
- Replace the Vice-Chancellor whose presence itself is a threat to law and order
- Pay compensation to injured students and extend unconditional apology to them and their parents for the excesses committed by the police
- Immediate removal police force from the University campus
- Find an amicable solution to the unrest on the campus and restore peace and harmony there, by acknowledging the space for student activity
- Initiate long-term solutions such as promulgating Rohit Act to curb caste-based discrimination and violence in educational institutions.
Yours truly,
Er. Abdul Jabbar Siddiqui Dr. Chiranjeevi Kolluri
Gen. Secretary, Convener,
Association for Protection of Civil Rights Telangana Democratic and Secular Alliance
Dr. Jasveen Jairath Mohd Afzal
Convener Convener
Hyderabad Forum Association for Protection of Civil Rights
S.Q.Masood, Khalid Hasan M.A Akram
Coordinator Gen. Secretary, Convenor,
Centre for Peace Studies Awami Insaaf Movement MY – Collective
Ali Asgher Khalida Parveen Abdus Sattar Mujahed, Chairman
ASEEM“ Awami Insaaf Movement Telangana Muslim Activists Committee
Salahuddin Masood Syed Azharuddin, (P.R Sec.) Mohd Abbas
Golconda Welfare Association Students Islamic Organisation Awaaz
Mohd Ali Mukarram Quadri, Vice President
Insaf Awami Insaaf Movement