Attack at HCU vice-chancellor’s lodge: 25 students, two faculty members get bail

A local court today granted bail to 25 students and two faculty members of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) who were arrested in connection with the violence on the campus last week during which the Vice Chancellor’s official residence was ransacked.

The students and the two faculty members were released on their submission of sureties of Rs 5,000 each.

The court also directed them to appear before Gachibowli Station House Officer once in a week.

The prosecution informed the XXV Metropolitan Magistrate court at Miyapur Court Complex here that the situation (law and order) is under control on HCU campus and they are not going to oppose the bail applications of all the 27 accused.

“In view of the career of the students we have not filed counter. We have left the court to decide the case on merit. The arrest were made by the police in order to control the situation (on March 22)…without having any personal grudges against anyone”, the public prosecutor said.

The defence counsel urged the court to grant bail contending that the allegations which were levelled against the accused are absolutely ‘vague’ and there is no material to keep them in further detention, and hence, requested the court to grant them bail on personal bonds.

A group of students, who were opposing Prof Appa Rao Podile’s return as the VC after a two-month leave following the row over research scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide in a university hostel room, had allegedly vandalised his residence and pelted police with stones on March 22.

Later, police resorted to lathicharge and arrested 25 of them, beside two faculty members. All of them were lodged in Cherlapally central prison here.

Cases were booked on charges of damage to public property, trespass, preventing government officials from performing their duties, and other relevant sections of IPC in connection with the violence.

The following statement was released by the Hyderabad University Vice Chancellor’s office:

Dear Students,

University of Hyderabad is one of the prestigious universities in this country & has a legacy of excellence. It is because of the students like you, teachers & non-teaching staff. It couldn’t be possible otherwise all these years.

The recent incidents at the University Campus are painful not just for us in the administration but also to thousands of students on the campus & many more thousands of university alumni across the world.

Universities are drivers of academic leadership, entrepreneurship, professionalism and hence add great value to the Gross Domestic Product [GDP] of a nation directly & indirectly.

You will agree that India is one of the greatest nations in the world. I humbly believe that the time tested democracy, inherent tolerance, unity in diversity are what we should be proud of. While every nation has its challenges, our country has its own & we must support whoever are trying to overcome these challenges and make India a better place than ever.

I request you to rise above anger and confrontational attitude as students of higher education in this university.

I and my team wish to lead by example in this area, with our willingness to be always open for a dialogue with all students, which we have always been. Let’s work towards resolution, instead of confrontation. Let’s together build bridges than walls in this university.

It’s very painful to see some of our students and couple of faculty members from campus spend time in jail. While I wanted to intervene, legal system is beyond our control and jurisdiction. I request the students to resist any temptation for violence on campus or anywhere else, as it would not yield any productive outcomes. Please restrain yourself from causing pain to yourself, your parents and the university. You have all other avenues to express yourself.

I humbly wish all students & student unions to sit together and resolve issues. I & my team will wholeheartedly support you in this endeavor. Let’s move ahead into a promising future for you & this great country.

I look forward for your cooperation. Thank you very much.

Vice Chancellor

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