Chennai: 50 detained for protesting over suicide of 3 medical students
Chennai/Hyderabad: More than 50 students were detained in Chennai after the Joint Action Committee of Social Justice in Hyderabad called for a countrywide bandh over the suicide of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. The students also carried out protests over the suicide of three Villupuram medical students.
Rohith Vemula was found hanging in a hostel room at the Hyderabad Central University 10 days ago. In a separate incident, 3 medical student allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a well, blaming their college for charging them 'exorbitant' fees.
Read: 3 medical students commit suicide in Tamil Nadu, blame college
Students have alleged that pressure from Union Ministers Bandaru Dattatreya, and Smriti Irani resulted in Vemula's suspension which eventually was the cause of suicide.
Read: Police books Bandaru Dattatreya for Hyderabad scholar Rohith’s suicide
Earlier on Tuesday, as many as 60 activists protesting at the Ambedkar statue near Telugu Talli flyover were arrested by police. Activists from AISF, AIYF, NSIW and DHPS staged a protest in front of the statue, demanding immediate removal of Union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani from the cabinet and action against UoH VC Appa Rao Podile.
Read: University of Hyderabad: Caution the buzz word
They held the Union government responsible for the discrimination against students from weaker section in educational institutions. Since, Rohith' suicide, student unions have been staging protests at Dattatreya's residence and other places. More than 100 students of Osmania University were also detained by police on Tuesday after they started a rally from People's Plaza at Necklace Road to the BR Ambedkar statue.
Read: University of Hyderabad: Caution the buzz word
In Hyderabad the Students Union of English and Foreign Languages University urged students to observe bandh. The UoH JAC also formed an All India JAC in collaboration with JACs elsewhere in the country like the JNU, New Delhi, TISS, Mumbai and Wardha University, Maharashtra which have also decided to observe a bandh on Wednesday.
The Gender Studies faculty of department of Ambedkar University, New Delhi decided not to conduct classes on Wednesday. The Pondi-cherry University Teachers Association said that it condemns the high-handedness of UoH administration.
