Hyderabad: Suspension Revoked, But Storm Intensifies; Rohith’s Letter Sent For Analysis | News World India

The storm over the suicide of a dalit student in Hyderabad University intensified despite the revocation of the suspension of four of his co-research scholars as the Controller of Examinations and 12 other faculty members belonging to SC/ST communities gave up their administrative posts in solidarity.

Wilting under relentless pressure from the students agitating for the removal of the Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and punishment for those responsible for the suicide of Rohith Vemula, the varsity Executive Council met and decided to “terminate” the punishment imposed on the students.

But the protesting students were not satisfied with the revocation of the suspension and burnt copies of the EC decision.

In solidarity with the students, the Controller of Examinations, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Warden were among the 13 faculty members belonging to SC-ST communities who gave up their administrative posts which they were holding as an additional responsibility.

Rohith’s last letter sent for forensic analysis

The letter purportedly written by Rohith Vemula, the Dalit scholar of University of Hyderabad, before he committed suicide, has been sent to the forensic lab for analysis, police sources said.

In the letter an entire paragraph has been scratched off and experts are investigating who did it.  There is a possibility that it was Rohith who struck off the paragraph, because of a line written in a bracket next to it: “I myself strike these words off.” It is signed, purportedly by him.

“The letter was sent to forensic lab for handwriting match and other analysis. It would take a few days to get the report,” police sources said.

Rohith’s body was found hanging at one of the hostel rooms on the University of Hyderabad campus on Sunday.

Rohith and four other students were earlier suspended from the university following an alleged assault on an ABVP leader. Later, the suspension was revoked but they were barred from accessing hostel facilities.

When contacted, Inspector J Ramesh of Gachibowli police refused to share any information saying it would hamper the investigation.

Cyberabad police haS named Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Vice Chancellor Appa Rao, Telangana BJP MLC Ramachandra Rao and two students in the FIR filed in the suicide case.

HRD ministry appointed fact-finding committee to submit report

The report of the two-member fact-finding committee set up by the HRD ministry to look into the the suicide by a dalit scholar in Hyderabad University is learnt to be in the final stages of preparation and is likely to be submitted on Friday.

It is learnt the the panel spoke to a cross section of stakeholders including 70-80 individuals, including students, academicians and others during its Hyderabad visit. The report, sources said, would dwell on the role of the University authorities, who have been blamed for the suicide, and systemic aspects to ensure such incidents do not recur.

The HRD ministry had earlier this week constituted the two-member fact-finding team comprising Shakila T Shamsu, OSD and a Deputy Secretary-level officer Surat Singh to look into the suicide of dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad Central University which has set off a political storm.

Teachers’ association rejects VC’s appeal

The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice and the University of Hyderabad Teachers’ Association today rejected an appeal made by the varsity Vice-Chancellor Prof Appa Rao Podile to restart the classes and restore normalcy.

The Hyderabad Central University (HCU) is roiling in the aftermath of the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula.

“At a time when the legitimacy of Prof Appa Rao to continue as a VC is in question, without attending to the protesting students, who are on indefinite hunger strike, the absconding VC and Executive Committee met today (not inside the campus) and issued a circular.”

“We outrightly reject this illegitimate circular since it came through a Committee headed by the VC, who in our opinion is not the legitimate VC anymore, but in fact a criminal on the run,” the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice alleged in a statement on Thursday.

(With PTI Inputs)