Emergency like' situation in HCU, says NHRC; sends notice to Telangana govt

New Delhi/Hyderabad: The National Human Rights Commission on Friday raised ‘serious concerns’ over action against Hyderabad Central University students and issued notices to top Union Human Resource Development officials, Telangana government and the police.

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The Commission observed that the ‘arbitrary act and high handedness’ of senior university officials, police and administrative officers, as reported in media, raise ‘serious concerns towards safety and security of the students’.

NHRC issued the notices taking suo motu cognizance of reports that there is an ‘emergency like’ situation in Hyderabad University and there is no water, electricity, food, internet services and ATMs are out of order.

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"NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that there is an emergency like situation in Hyderabad University and there is no water, electricity, food, internet services and ATMs are out of order. Reportedly, there is heavy police presence in the Campus. The University students are under immense fear and trauma due to indiscriminate arrests of about 25 students and 2 faculty members,” it said in a statement.

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Notices have been issued to the Union HRD Secretary, Telangana Chief Secretary and the Hyderabad Police Commissioner calling for reports in the matter within one week.

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No one can be deprived of the basic amenities like water, food and electricity by wilful act of the State," the human rights panel said.

25 students and two faculty members of Hyderabad Central University have been arrested in connection with incidents of vandalism at the VC's lodge and stone pelting on police personnel on March 22.

Meanwhile, Radhika Vemula, mother of deceased Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula demanded immediate, unconditional release of those arrested.

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"We demand immediate and unconditional release of all those who were arrested and sent to jail, and withdrawal of cases against them. They (students) were asking for justice for Rohit (during the protest near VC's lodge)... but were beaten up brutally by police," Rohit's mother Radhika and brother Raja, along with certain teachers of HCU and parents of some of the arrested students, told reporters.