Rohith Vemula suicide case: Protests set to intensify today

Activist of a Dalit organisation participate in a candle light vigil holding photographs of Indian student Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad: Despite the fact that University of Hyderabad Vice Chancellor P Appa Rao has gone on leave, students are set to intensify their protest on Monday.

Notably, Rao is in the eye of the storm over the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice, an umbrella of student groups, has vowed to continue the protest till justice is done to Rohith's family.

The JAC has also called for 'Chalo HCU' (Hyderabad Central University) on Monday to intensify the protest. It has called upon students from across the country to reach the campus for protest.

The JAC is demanding arrest of central ministers Smirit Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, BJP legislator Ramchandra Rao and the vice chancellor, blaming them for Rohith's suicide and social boycott of Dalit students.

The protestors also alleged that Telangana Police was shielding the culprits. "Arrests have to be made under SC/ST Atrocities Act immediately as it is a cognizable/non-bailable offence," the JAC said.

Vipin Srivastava, the seniormost professor, will perform the duties of the vice chancellor, the university announced on Sunday.

(With IANS inputs)