Angry students staged a protest against University of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor P. Appa Rao, who resumed office today after going on leave amid the storm following the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, and vandalised his office.
Students were seen swarming into Rao's office and vandalising property while demanding his resignation.
"He is the main one involved in Rohith's death and everyone knows that. The case is still pending in court. Without informing anyone, he came back to his position and called an executive council meeting. Only deans and nominated people should be attending the meetings but some students are also present inside," a protesting student said.
हैदराबाद यूनिवर्सिटी में VC काम-काज पर लौटे, छात्रों ने ऑफिस में तोड़-फोड़ कीhttps://t.co/lWYgMN04Kg
— Navbharat Times (@NavbharatTimes) March 22, 2016
Police reach Hyderabad University after students vandalised VC's office in protest #RohithVemulapic.twitter.com/50ozr7zUsj
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 22, 2016
Hyderabad University students protesting at VC's lodge vandalise the venue where VC Appa Rao was present. pic.twitter.com/UEopsdOQ0q
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 22, 2016
Hyderabad University students protesting at VC's lodge vandalise the venue where VC Appa Rao was present. pic.twitter.com/ilx7Iszm0M
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 22, 2016
Rao was under fire for his handling of the suspension of the five Dalit students, one of whom, Vemula, committed suicide on January 17. 26-year-old Vemula was suspended from his hostel in August last year for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader. Rao had said earlier that he was going on leave to facilitate talks with the protesting students.
M. Periasamy had taken over Rao's responsibilities in his absence, after interim VC Dr Vipin Srivastava went on leave just hours before Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was to meet students at the university.
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