Osmania University PhD scholars protest against lack of security at hostel

Hyderabad: In the wake of a protest by Osmania University women hostellers over the perceived lack of security at the PhD Scholars hostel, Vice Chancellor Prof. D. Ravinder announced a series of measures to address their concerns.

The protest was sparked by an incident in which two unidentified individuals reportedly entered the hostel premises at about 4.30 pm on Wednesday, and stayed there till about dawn the next day. The students contacted the hostel security.

Security personnel tried to apprehend one of the intruders but he managed to escape. As the evening progressed, the students reported hearing knocks on their doors, further intensifying the atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

On Friday, Ravinder visited the campus along with key officials, including the dean, hostel warden, OU police, electrician, and security heads.

He said eight additional lights were installed in strategic locations across the premises. "The overgrown bushes around the area were trimmed. The CCTV cameras were repaired, and new ones were installed. Two more security guards were deployed," Prof. Ravinder told Deccan Chronicle.

The students, who had continued their protests until midnight on Thursday, expressed relief and cautiously welcomed the immediate actions taken by the university authorities, Prof. Ravinder said.