The campus of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) witnessed tense moments on Monday, after students allegedly blocked members of the academic council for over three hours.
The incident occurred when the students were protesting against certain decisions taken by the 78th Academic Council of the university.
The police also had to enter the campus to diffuse the situation.
Speaking to the Times of India, TV Rao, Security Officer at UoH, said, "Students were peacefully protesting till 5.30pm. After that, they got agitated and tried to force their way into the meeting room and interrupt proceedings. We had to wrestle with them for over three hours and finally managed to send all the members out."
Several student unions from the campus took part in the protest.
The students alleged that the varsity had "launched another systematic attack to reduce the number of SC/ST" students entering the varsity by "withdrawing several rights and entitlements that were secured after relentless struggles and sacrifices."
The Ambedkar Students Association (ASA,) in a statement, said that the university had earlier removed cut-off marks for all students in M.Phil and Ph.D Courses, which was helping SC/ST students.
They alleged that the university "conspired to change the policy to prevent the entry of depressed classes."
Besides protesting an increase in application fees, the students were also agitated due to a decision to table the Ashok Kumar Roopanwala Commission Report.
The Roopanwaala Commission was formed after research scholar Rohith Vemula killed himself in the university on January 17, 2016.
In October last year, the report submitted its findings which blamed Rohith’s “own problems” and unhappiness with “worldly affairs” for his suicide, absolving union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani as only discharging their duties.
It also made several allegations, including that Rohith’s mother, Radhika, "branded" herself a Dalit to avail the benefits of reservation.
The students have since termed the report an attempt to shield two Union ministers and the Vice Chancellor in the suicide case.
On Monday, they also alleged that the University administration was trying to ‘sanctify the report.’