Hyderabad University students rise in protest against Dalit scholar's suicide

Updated: Monday, January 18, 2016, 14:27 [IST]

Hyderabad, Jan 18: Students of Hyderabad University sat in protest after a 27-year old PhD student committed suicide yesterday evening after he was boycotted by the university authorities.

Vermula Rohit was allegedly found hanging from the ceiling of a hostel room after barred from the hostel, the libabry, the mess and the common areas after being accused of attacking an ABVP activist in August.

A group of students sat with his dead body all night, raising slogans and demanding that the authorities heard them out. Rohit, who was about to finish his doctorate was residing in a tent along with four others outside the university premises. The five Dalit scholars, who were members of the Ambedkar union had been accused of attacking the activist during a protest against the execution of 1993 Bombay blasts convict Yakub Memon.

While Rohit and the others were cleared off all the charges in an initial enquiry, the university later revoked its decision.

Venkat, Rohit's friend said that even the Dalit professors did not come to their help and supported the VC's decision. "Heartbroken, Rohit went to a hostel room and hung himself from the ceiling fan."