After a Dalit PhD student on Thursday filed an FIR against the proctor of English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad for alleged harassment, the News Minute has managed to access a copy of the FIR.
Koonal Duggal was apparently dragged out of the campus on Thursday at the proctor’s behest for alleged anti-university activities, while attending Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations.
Duggal, who is a PhD research scholar at the Department of Cultural Studies, EFL is a Dalit (SC) belonging to the Julaha community.
In his FIR, Duggal says that in a clear case of high-handedness and arbitrariness, four security guards dragged him out from the venue in front of fellow students, teachers and treated him as a criminal, thereby causing him much public humiliation and embarrassment.
“When I enquired why I had to be removed from the venue, I was informed that the security guards have received an order “restricting” my entry into EFL University campus, where I currently study. I was told that I should go and talk to Prakash Kona Reddy, who as the Proctor had issued the order. I was never priorly informed on such a restricting order. I have not participated in any unlawful activities,” the report states.
When he requested to see a copy of the restraining order, the security staff failed to produce one and asked him to continually go and speak to Prakash Kona Reddy. The whole incident was meant to humiliate him in front of his peers and faculty, he claims.
“I feel that the alleged restricting order, issued without any prior information and without following any procedural norms, is an arbitrary attack on me as a Dalit student. Such an order will also restrict me from using the University facilities which I require for doing my research,” the report adds.
Duggal feels that Prakash Kona Reddy and the EFL University administration are deliberately targeting him for being a Dalit student and this amounts to discrimination and criminalization.
Duggal has filed a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the Osmania University Police Station against Prakash Kona Reddy for continual harassment.
You can read our earlier report here.