Policemen, who cracked down on students protesting at University, threatened to rape the women students, revealed an independent fact finding team.
Our Correspondent
A fact finding team consisting of human rights activists from various organizations on the March 22 student protests & police action at the of Hyderabad Central University, HCU has asked government to remove Vice Chancellor Mr Appa Rao in the best academic interest of University.
“In the best academic and interest and in restoring a peaceful environment in University and in order to ensure a fair investigation is done, the Team recommends that the Vice Chancellor Mr Appa Rao must be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation”
Fact finding team suggested that Police need to step up their response in dealing with the cases filed against VC and student arrests with efficiency and due legal process both in the case.
The team, which went into March 22 incidents on the campus, found that there was widespread assault of women students. “Abusive language and threats to rape the women students were heard from police,” said the interim report by the panel comprising senior human rights activists, academicians and lawyers.
“Normalcy of the University must be restored immediately. Free mobility in and out of the University and this must be brought back to regular functioning. This is essential for the academic health of the University, which has suffered significantly”, it stressed.
It also recommended that Criminal investigation should be immediately conducted and action should be taken against the police who have wilfully neglected their duty under Section 4 of the SC ST PoA Amendment Act 2016.
It asked the Central Government to ‘swiftly and efficiently ensure a smooth transition of the leadership of the University’ in the best interest of the primary objective of the University of Academic Excellence by replacing the Vice Chancellor in close consultation with the University students and Faculty.
The State Government should play a facilitating role in bringing back normalcy to the campus, it said.
Fact finding team was formed to ascertain and understand the sequence of events that led to the escalation of violence on the 22nd of March at Hyderabad Central University (HCU).
Members of the fact finding team were Henri Tiphagne, (Human Rights Defenders Alert, India), Tara Rao, (Amnesty Intl), Burnard Fatima, (International Movement against all forms of Discrimination and Racism), Kuffir Nalgundwar, (Round Table India), Kiruba Munusamy, Supreme Court Lawyer, Beena Pallical, (National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights), Ramesh Nathan, (National Dalit Movement for Justice), Asha Kowtal, (All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch), Paul Divakar, (Asia Dalit Rights Forum).
Key findings Fact Finding Team:
1. The Vice Chancellor Mr Appa Rao has a registered case pending against him under SC ST PoA Act 1989 in connection with the Rohith Vemula suicide. No action has been taken in this regard.
2. His unexpected re-entry into the campus was pre-planned with details chalked out with his supporter students and faculty, which triggered the escalation of violence.
3. What has been the role of the MHRD in his reinstatement and this process was not transparent
4. Interim situation: It was established that the University was working smoothly and with regularity in the interim phase, while Professor Periasamy was the Vice Chancellor. The routine at the University was maintained, including the proceedings within the University’s Academic Council. Students and Faculty have confirmed their satisfaction. Even during the indefinite leave of Mr Appa Rao, the students association, faculties and various political parties continue their struggle within the campus with various demands
5. It has also been observed that the Union Minister Shri Dattatrey and Shushil Kumar also have not been arrested after being booked for non-bailable offences. This inaction of the state, central government has contributed to this situation
6. Disruption of the Campus: The return of the Vice Chancellor, Appa Rao, who had proceeded on indefinite leave triggered the disruption of peace on campus. According to the Home Minister, VC Appa Rao expressed a desire to the Minister to return to the campus and was strongly advised against it by the Police Commissioner and the Home Minister, saying that it would cause disruption of University. In spite of the Home Ministry’s advice he chose to return to the university.
7. Police’s role: People arrested were not presented before a magistrate within 24 hours as required by law.
8. Women students: Widespread assault of women students and abusive language and threats to rape the women students were heard from the police. Also targeted statements towards minority students and describing them as “terrorists” was also heard.
9. The police could have given bail but the students and faculty were remanded in judicial custody