Osmania University seems to be heading for trouble once again. A fight almost broke out when student groups gathered near the NRS Hostel on Friday night with ABVP activists, who approached the State Human Rights Commission earlier in the day, to complain against cops over their failure to prevent students from damaging idols at a temple on the campus.
However, the police picket on the campus prevented any break-out of violence and the students dispersed late in the night. “Student leaders who were arrested for beating up a student were out on bail and others came to know of it. So many people gathered to confront ABVP activists,” said a member of TSJAC. He said many students were also miffed with the heavy cops presence.
Friday night’s scenario was apparently a continuation of the fight between the ABVP and the TRSV, which took place on April 27 on the campus, during which some members of the latter group damaged the idol of Saraswati in front of Arts College. The police booked seven students under Section 307 of IPC after the incident. While some leaders condemned the act, they also warned that the huge posse of policemen stationed near the NRS and Old PG hostels may brew fresh trouble.
“Students are not happy to see the police everywhere near hostels. The atmosphere of education in the university will be spolit if this continues, and there might even be a backlash by the student community if the police are there to monitor things day and night,” said M Krishank, spokesman of the Telangana Students Joint Action Committee.
After April 27, OU cops had been given permission to set up pickets inside the campus by the V-C, said a senior official. Many students fear the current situation is only a foreboding of things to come. “This situation is serious because it reminds one of the time of the beef festival which led to clashes. There is a lot of hostility among student groups now and it may end up in a bloody clash,” said a student on condition of anonymity.
