Hyderabad HC asks KCR government to explain police brutality at Hyd Uni campus

The Hyderabad high court demanded an explanation from the Telangana government within ten days on what it deemed to be unlawful behavior of the police in the University of Hyderabad campus on March 21, 2016. The court was hearing a petition filed by UoH professor Tathagata Sengupta and student P Adityan, alleging police brutality against students.

The Times of India reported:

Arguing on their behalf, advocate Gunratan Sidavarte told the court that that ACP Ramulu Naik refused to accept a complaint against his colleague ACP Ramana Kumar who had led the baton charge. “An officer cannot accept or reject a complaint against another police officer of same rank,” he said.

On March 21, students of the University were protesting the return of the VC Appa Rao Podile who had gone on leave following the death of Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula, who had killed himself on January 17.

After the news broke out, Appa Rao went on leave for two months and resumed office on March 21. Students protested in front of Vice-Chancellor’s guest house, but were faced with a police lathicharge, following which 25 students and two professors were arrested.

The advocate for the petitioner also said when students were produced before a lower court, the judge should have asked if police had beaten them.