HYDERABAD: The University of Hyderabad campus security personnel reportedly decided to bar entry of Muslim visitors on campus.
The issue came to light on Monday when Zunera, a student, lodged a formal complaint with the varsity registrar. When contacted, chief security officer TV Rao confirmed the move and said it was because he overheard students talking about a meeting, though no permission was granted, to discuss US President Donald Trump’s ban on Muslims entering the US.
On Saturday, when a student from Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) visited his female friend at the UOH campus to hand over some medicines, he was not allowed to enter despite being identified by the student. The campus security officer allegedly had said, “A bunch of Muslims are coming to the campus and they might create problems. Therefore Muslim visitors will not be allowed today.”
“When I reached the main gate, I saw there were a few students and visitors who were discussing something with the security. Initially they said they know me and were ready to issue the visitor pass. They did not finally allow him inside,” Zunera said, demanding appropriate action from the university authority.
CSO claims students planned to attack security
However, TV Rao, the chief security officer, claimed that all the students have collectively planned to attack the security. “On Saturday, a number of students, specifically Muslim students came in twos and threes. All of them stated that they wanted to meet their friends inside the campus. It was unusual for that many students, from a single community, to come in on a single day,” said Rao.
Rao checked with the Dean of Students’ Welfare to confirm if there was any meeting but the Dean denied it. “That was when we understood that they were all up to some mischief and decided to stop the group from entering the campus for the day,” added Rao.
After this, Zunera’s friend also came by and he was denied entry too. “He did not tell me that he was there to deliver medicines. Had I known, it was an emergency, I would have sent him without a second thought,” said Rao.