A delegation of JNU students on Monday met officials at NHRC in New Delhi over the alleged crackdown and arrest of students in Hyderabad Central University and demanded concrete action against its VC Appa Rao in connection with the Rohith Vemula issue.
Representatives of pan-India teachers Associations also on Monday demanded removal of Hyderabad Central University's Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao and a judicial inquiry into the recent police "crackdown" on students and teachers on the varsity campus.
Twenty-seven people including 25 students and two faculty members of the varsity were arrested on March 23 in connection with the recent violence on the campus. However, they were granted bail by a local court on Monday.
The delegation, which met National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Registrar CK Chaturvedi, submitted a compilation of testimonials of HCU students regarding the "inhuman treatment" meted out to them on March 22 and demanded that Rao be removed from the post of VC.
"We compiled the testimonials of HCU students who were on the receiving end of the crackdown, in a CD, and submitted it to the NHRC. We have especially pointed out the case of a student Uday Bhanu who was physically assaulted. That is the case of human rights violation," JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora said.
"We hope NHRC takes this case seriously and does something concrete about it," she added.
The Federation of Central Universities Teachers' Association (FEDCUTA) termed the police crackdown as "premeditated" to inflict violence.
Putting out a list of demands, Nandita Narain, the President of FEDCUTA, said the charges against the students and the faculty should be dropped and efforts made to restore normalcy on the university campus.
"We demand that Prof Appa Rao be immediately removed from the post and a judicial inquiry be instituted into the barbaric crackdown on students and teachers of the HCU.
"There should be strict action against those accused of abetting the suicide of Rohith Vemula. Also, a Rohith Act should be legislated to prevent caste discrimination in educational institutions," Narain added.
Many students from different universities including JNU, DU and Jamia Milia Islamia had gathered in front of NHRC building to express solidarity with the students of HCU.
Carrying placards and raising slogans, the students demanded the removal of Rao and HRD Minister Smriti Irani from their respective posts as well as the enactment of 'Rohith Act' against caste discrimination in educational institutions.
Celebrations erupted among the protestors as the news about the release of HCU students on bail broke out and the students hailed the release as "the victory of our struggle".
The NHRC had, on March 25, issued notices to the top Union HRD and Telangana government officials over action against the students and is now awaiting for their reports.
Chaturvedi reportedly assured the delegation of "proper action" once the report from Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission is received.
"The Commission did not know about the magnitude of assault on the students in HCU. We had to inform them. They have promised to inform us once they get the report from the APHRC," said Rama, a member of JNUSU and the delegation.