Security personnel check the identity of Students at Hyderabad Central University in Hyderabad on Wednesday. PTI Photo Deprived of basic necessities including food and water,students agitating against the return of Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile to the campus of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) are planning to move the Human Rights Commission.
The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice -UoH on Thursday urged the people across the country to send post cards to "National Human Rights Commission ". In a Facebook post, they also published a sample draft of the post card to be sent to the rights panel.
Also read: No water, food in HCU: Students call it 'undeclared emergency'
Speaking to Onmanoama from Hyderabad over phone, HCU students union president Zuhail on Thursday said they have told the varsity authorities that they would be filing a complaint of human rights violation if messes are not reopened and water supply restored at the earliest.
The students were starving and had to bear the scorching sun on Wednesday after the messes were closed without any prior notice and water and electricity supplies were disrupted.
After non-teaching staff went on a flash strike alleging manhandling by protesting students, water and electricity supplies to the hostels were disrupted.
However, the students union has alleged foul play by Appa Rao behind the workers' strike. Internet connectivity was disrupted and the ATM of the State Bank of Hyderabad was also not functioning, according students.
Zuhail said the varsity has agreed to reopen the messes on Thursday itself. "Water supply is being restored and they have agreed to provide lunch from mess. We had to arrange breakfast for over 1,500 students from outside this morning," Zuhail said.
The police on Wednesday night produced all the 27 protesters -- 25 students and two faculty members -- before a local magistrate. The arrested have been shifted to a nearby jail and the students union and the Joint Action Council -- an umbrella collective of 14 student outfits -- are trying to release them on bail.
It is estimated that the students will have to collect at least Rs 4 lakh to get the arrested persons out on bail.
They were arrested on Tuesday after they protested the return of Appa Rao to resume his service as the VC. The protesters have been demanding Rao's removal as VC for his alleged role in the events led to the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar on the campus.
Six cases have been filed against the arrested on various charges.
The police on Wednesday allegedly manhandled the students who tried to cook food on the premises of the shopping complex after messes remained closed. One student -- Udayabhanu -- who suffered injuries in the police action is undergoing treatment in the hospital, Zuhail said.
The JAC has decided to continue the protests.
Meanwhile, the university administration on Thursday issued a press release saying they have not forcefully disrupted supply of basic amnesties.
