Hyderabad Uni VC resumes charge, protesting students vandalise his office

Protests erupted in the University of Hyderabad on Tuesday after news broke that the university Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile was to resume his tenure.

Students broke into the premises of the VC’s residence and vandalized his office. 

An altercation broke out between the students and the officials of the university. According to TV reports, some journalists have also been injured. 

One of the protestors told CNN-IBN, “We have been protesting peacefully for two months but now we have lost our patience. Why has he returned?”

Some TV reports say that ABVP supporters were shielding the VC from the protestors.

One of the members of the Joint Action Committee Arpita told The News Minute that the Apparao Podile’s return to the university as the vice chancellor was “completely unexpected”.

Asked about the vandalism, she said that she was unaware about what was happening at the university and would only respond to that once she got there.

“We didn’t know that this had happened. We woke up this morning and we got calls from the media telling us that the VC is back. And so we are now going to assemble at the university,” she added.

Apparao had gone on indefinite leave on January 24 after massive protests following the death of Rohith Vemula, a PhD student of the university.

Rohith Vemula, a 26-year-old Dalit research scholar had hanged himself on the campus on January 17 after he was expelled from his hostel by the administration. Students said the VC was responsible for Rohith’s suicide and he should not return to office. Police are trying to bring the situation under control.