Dalit students attacked at University of Hyderabad during Deepavali event

At least seven students belonging to the Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA) were allegedly attacked by students in the Master of Computer Application in University of Hyderabad on Sunday during the Deepavali celebrations hosted by the latter on campus. Some of the MCA students who attacked the ASA students are affiliated with the ABVP, alleged ASA.

The ASA students have filed a complaint of caste-based atrocities against the MCA students with the Gachibowli police. Police have registered a case under 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) read with 34 of IPC (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

On Sunday, the MCA students hosted their annual Deepavali celebrations. Two Dalit students belonging to ASA -- P Sudheer Kumar and T Ramakrishna from Integrated studies went to attend the event, and allegedly a couple of students took objection to their presence. “We were standing at a corner and witnessing the event, and 3-4 students with an intent to pick a fight came to us and used casteist slurs against us. They hurled abuses at us without any provocation,” Sudheer told TNM.

In his complaint, he wrote that the MCA students used casteist slurs like ‘ASA Saale’, ‘Why are you Dalits coming to Hindu festival?’

“We tried reasoning that the event was open for all, but they started shoving us and physically assaulted us. They knew that we are active members of ASA,” claimed Sudheer.  Sudheer said that he suffered injuries to his eyes, lips and nose while Ramakrishna suffered injuries to his leg.

Witnessing the ruckus, former president of ASA, Samson Gidla tried intervening. However, he too was attacked by a mob of at least 30 students, Sudheer claimed.

Among the attacked include ASA’s current president Iniyavan who alleged that they were indiscriminately attacked. “We received calls that our students are being attacked. When we went there they cornered us and attacked us,” said Iniyavan. “It is a clear case of caste discrimination. They took offence to the presence of Dalit students at the event. Our students were brutally beaten,” he said.

ASA is yet to file a complaint with the university regarding the incident. But they said that they would approach the Proctorial Board of the university to pursue the attack on them and ensure justice.

Meanwhile ABVP, disassociated from the incident. ABVP president Abhishek Malhotra said, “ABVP is nowhere involved in the incident. It has come to my knowledge that two groups fought and ABVP had no role whatsoever in it.”

Speaking to TNM, Gachibowli Admin SI Ramesh Kumar said, “After verifying the complaint, we have registered the case under two sections. Further inquiry is underway.”