HYDERABAD: Students of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) have reportedly divided into two groups, Telangana and Seemandhra. This development just when university authorities are likely to issue a notification for student council elections by month-end nudges up the temperature on campus.
In a disturbing development, it has come to light that a student hailing from Tamil Nadu and having the backing of students from Andhra and Rayalaseema, was beaten up by those supporting the Telangana movement.
Former president of the student council and a PhD scholar in the English department, B Ravichandran was reportedly beaten up by a mob of Telangana supporters.
Even as police officials are tight-lipped over the division of students on regional lines, a few students of EFLU confirmed the same.
The injured student, Ravichandran, who is the presidential candidate in the ensuing polls, is taking an active role in student-related issues in the campus. According to sources, students from Andhra and Rayalaseema out number those from Telangana.
Besides, most of the students who come from states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, West Bengal are supporting B Ravichandran as a presidential candidate.
Police said irritated students strongly demanding for Andhra Pradesh bifurcation detained Ravichandran in front of the publishing cell on December 17 was allegedly beaten up.
The reason: Ravichandran was encouraging the Andhra and Rayalaseema students, eyeing their vote bank in the campus.
Based on the complaint lodged by B Ravichandran, OU police has registered cases under sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and also under the SC/ST Atrocities Act against Pavan Chakravarthy, G Kiran Kumar and Janardhan, students accused of being involved in the attack.
One of the accused, Kiran Kumar, however, claimed he was not involved in the beating up Ravichandran.
“He was only warned by my friends when he made provocative statements against Telangana,’’ he added.
However, students staying in the EFLU campus and hostels are in fear ever since the student clash took place. University authorities could not be contacted for their comment.
A Ramchandran, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Kacheguda division said, “I can not confirm that a clash took place on regional lines. I wrote a letter to the police commissioner AK Khan seeking permission to initiate preliminary probe,’’ the ACP said.