Violence grips HCU, classes suspended, no outsiders to be allowed on campus

Hyderabad: Tension mounted in Hyderabad Central University following the resumption of duty by controversial Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile with authorities on Wednesday barring outsiders from entering the campus and classes being suspended for four days.

"In view of the situation, classes are suspended from March 23 to 26. We have taken a decision not to allow any outsider, including mediapersons and political parties, on the campus," Registrar M Sudhakar said when asked about the proposed visit of JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar to the university.

Kanhaiya Kumar reached Hyderabad on Wednesday to join protesting students at HCU.

Police said additional forces have been deployed on the campus as a precautionary measure and pickets set up around Podile's official residence.

The move comes after the VC sought protection following Tuesday's incidents when his residence was vandalised allegedly by a group of students who were opposing his return as the Vice Chancellor after a two-month leave.

"The situation is peaceful. Forces have been deployed to maintain law and order," Joint Commissioner of Cyberabad Police TV Sashidhar Reddy said.

Police resorted to lathi-charge on the students who were protesting outside the VC's official residence.

The students had raised slogans against the Vice Chancellor, barged into his residence, broke windowpanes, smashed doors and television set among other items.

The students demanded that the VC be arrested immediately as he was one of the accused in Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula's alleged suicide case on January 17.

Podile, who is in the eye of a storm over Vemula's suicide, had proceeded on leave on January 24 as the agitating students demanded his resignation and held vigorous protests seeking "justice" for the Dalit student.

‘Students can’t decide who should be V-C’

UoH Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile on Tuesday described the incidences that took place on the campus earlier in the day were acts of violence and not protest. He termed it as ‘black day in the history of the UoH’.

Prof. Podile said, “If any group of students can dictate who should be the Vice-Chancellor, no university can have a V-C. This is going to be a national problem.” He said that he was appointed V-C by the government and will only accept the government’s decision.