Telangana varsities turn battle zone

University campuses in the Telangana region saw student unrest following the arrest of the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on Sunday. Observers said the student violence at the Osmania University campus was the worst in four decades.

Trouble started when students gathered outside Krishnaveni Hostel on the OU campus at 10 am to take out a rally protesting against the arrest of Mr Rao. They burnt chairs and tables near the hostel, which is 150 yards from the Osmania University police station.

The students also ignored a request to not take out a procession, and police began a lathicharge to disperse them. Some personnel entered the hostel and beat the students. This triggered an angry response from the students from other hostels who joined the protests. Soon, about 2,000 hostellers gathered at the spot.

But the police caned them too near the NCC office on the campus and again entered the hostels. Police sealed off the campus by closing the points at Tarnaka and Nallakunta.

There were at least five incidents of stone pelting which triggered retaliation from the police. The two fought a pitched battle for nearly five hours. About 20 students were injured the lathicharge and taken to Gandhi Hospital. Two student leaders were examined for internal injuries at Osmania General Hospital. Six physically handicapped students who were caught in the melee were lathicharged.

The students ransacked the quarters of Mr Christopher, secretary of AP State Higher Education Council. Mr Christopher and his family were not at home at that time.

All student unions joined hands to protest the police action and called for ‘OU bandh’ on Monday and gheraoed the OU Arts College principal, Mr Sudharshan Rao.

“Police is not supposed to enter the hostel blocks without the permission of the vice-chancellor,” said Mr J. Kalyan, ABVP leader. OU Teachers Association also joined the protests.

The principal agreed that police should not enter the hostels without permission, but added, “if the situation goes out of control, they can take action. We are not sure whose fault was it. We will look into the matter.”

OU officials later declared a holiday to all campus colleges except the College of Engineering till December 3. Even as this was on, 500 candidates took an entrance exam for jobs as engineers in BHEL.