On his death anniversay, Rohith’s mom, brothers, friends and journos detained

As many as 17 students were taken into preventive custody by Gachibowli police.
Rohith Vemula | File Photo
Rohith Vemula | File Photo

HYDERABAD: On the first death anniversary of Rohith Vemula, the University of Hyderabad Dalit scholar who committed suicide at the UoH hostel after facing disciplinary action, his mother Radhika Vemula, brother Raja, and close to a dozen friends -- including Sudipto Mondal, a journalist from Hindustan Times -- were detained by the Cyberabad police near the university’s main gate at 8 pm.

It may be recalled that the UoH issued a statement on Monday reiterating that the campus was closed to outsiders. In spite of the restrictions, members of Joint Action Committee seeking justice for Rohith had called for support in commemorating 'Rohith Shahadath Din' at Velivada or Shopcom inside the campus. Participants scheduled to speak at the event included Dalits who were victims of the public whipping in Una, Gujarat, relatives of Mohammad Akhlaq who had been lynched to death in Dadri, UP as well as Fathima Nafees, mother of missing JNU student Najeeb.

However, early in the evening, with the University administration refusing to let “outsiders” enter the campus as per the directions of Hyderabad High Court, tension prevailed at the shut gate. Large numbers of students rushed towards the gate and threw it open. Barricades were thrown to the ground as students from other universities and activists poured through the gate only to be detained by the police standing guard. As many as 17 students were taken into preventive custody by Gachibowli police.

After a melee which lasted for more than 30 minutes, students stayed at the gate and invited Radhika and others to address the gathering from there, the Rohith Shahadath Din programme thereby starting two hours later than scheduled outside the campus. Radhika Vemula wanted to garland Rohith's memorial: Radhika, who said she had travelled from Guntur to Hyderabad solely to garland her son’s memorial -- a stupa -- on campus, requested to be allowed into the campus. She said that she wanted to speak to the UoH VC Appa Rao Podile and requested the police to let her in, for a peaceful talk, even saying she would sit on a hunger strike.

When entry was still denied, she and others decided to proceed in a candlelight rally to the memorial, escorted by professors. As students started to form a human chain and began distributing candles, a scuffle began and barricades were quickly set up by the police. Fifteen of the protesters including Radhika, Raja, Ambedkar Student Association leaders Kumar, Kavya, Pramila, Prabhakar and Student Union leader Ravali were detained by the police and escorted into a police van. Mondal was part of the group. Earlier in the day, Frontline reporter Kunal Shankar was detained and taken to Gachibowli police station. Based on a complaint from UoH authorities, the police registered a case against the scribe on charges of trespass.

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