Student unions in the Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) in Guntur are furious, after a blanket ban was imposed on them in the aftermath of the Rishiteswari suicide case.
A circular issued by the university registrar dated August 8, 2015, a copy of which is with TNM, has been reportedly sent to the principals of all the six campus colleges banning "all activities of student unions, caste groups and their affiliated groups."
ANU has been witnessing mass protests on the college campus ever since M Rishiteswari, a first year B. Arch student from Warangal committed suicide on July 21, leaving behind a note which alleged that seniors had harassed her and spread rumours about her, which led her to take the extreme step.
"Gatherings, rallies, posters within the walls of the university, the activities in the name of student organizations and boycotting of classes and administrative work by the students, teachers and administrative staff is prohibited in the university," the circular added.
Immediately after the 18-year-old's death, ANU in-charge Vice-Chancellor K.R.S. Sambasiva Rao was sacked and three students were arrested. However, the case has slowed down since and a lot of groups have been demanding justice since then, claiming that a CBI probe be initiated.
“We condemn the unilateral ban on student unions. We have been voicing concerns of the student community for years in a democratic manner and we feel that the State government is stifling the voice of student community,” Student Federation of India (SFI) president Pavan told The Hindu.
The case took a new turn last week as a second diary was discovered at her home in Warangal, which detailed more instances of harassment that Rishiteswari faced from her seniors and friends.
“I don’t know who to share this with. I don’t know how he could do this. I hate all men. I hate them all,” she wrote.