Rohith's mother denied entry at UoH, but father allowed in with police escort, say students

Even as Rohith Vemula's mother and brother, Radhika and Raja, were denied entry into the campus of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Tuesday night, students allege that the police facilitated the entry of his father, Mani Kumar.

"While they detained Radhika amma, the police tried to bring him (Mani Kumar) in along with two or three more people into the University at around 7.30 pm, but could not enter as the students had blocked the main gate," said Munna Sannaki, a student leader.

"He was outside campus for a while, but not many people recognised him, so nobody questioned him. He was also apparently drunk," he added.

The students allege that after being foiled at the main gate, the police took Mani Kumar through another entrance to Rohith's stupa at the velivada on campus, where he hugged the statue and cried.

"This is how the patriarchal police deals with the Rohith case. This is how the state and central government is silencing a mother's cry who brought Rohith up. This shows the two faces of police who violated High Court decision on one side, and showed a UoH circular to Rohith's mother," the students said in a statement.

Rohith’s mother Radhika Vemula was married off to Mani Kumar in 1985, when she was just 14 years old. Rohith's father, who belonged to the 'vaddera' caste, allegedly did not know that Radhika was a Dalit. He is reported to have found out only five years into the marriage, following which he deserted the family, leaving Radhika to raise her children alone.

Radhika has also stated on multiple occasions that he was a violent alcoholic, who used to physically assault her.

For the past few days, there was a growing consensus among the students who were part of the Rohith movement that Radhika Vemula should enter the University, and visit Rohith's stupa on campus, on his death anniversary.

However, both the University and the campus security had stated that they would allow no such thing, citing a campus circular and HC order that banned 'outsiders' from entering the campus.

On Tuesday night, as Radhika was denied permission to enter the campus, students and police clashed, following which she was taken into preventive custody by the police. She was released along with Raja Vemula, late on Tuesday night.