This Article is From Jul 19, 2016

Rohith Vemula Case Accused Allegedly Thrashes Student Who Looked Like A Kashmiri

Rohith Vemula Case Accused Allegedly Thrashes Student Who Looked Like A Kashmiri

Amol Singh, the M Phil student, claimed that he was brutally thrashed by ABVP activist on July 16.

Hyderabad: Days after two groups of students clashed on the campus of Hyderabad University following a meeting on "Kashmir situation", ABVP leader N Susheel Kumar and others have been booked for allegedly assaulting an M Phil student.

The M Phil student, Amol Singh, claimed that the attackers mistook him for a Kashmiri.

Police also booked Mr Singh after Mr Kumar, accused of abetting the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula on the campus in January, alleged in his cross complaint that Mr Singh had attacked them.

Gachibowli police have booked Mr Kumar and 30 others under sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code after Mr Singh alleged that some ABVP students "brutally" attacked him on Saturday evening, a senior police officer told Press Trust of India today.

Similarly, based on a complaint lodged by Mr Kumar, a counter case has been registered against Mr Singh with Miyapur Police under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and other relevant sections of IPC, he said, adding that both the cases are under investigation.

On July 16 evening, a scuffle had broken out between two groups of students after a meeting was conducted to "condemn" the police action against protesters in Jammu and Kashmir, at the shopping complex on the varsity campus.

In his complaint, Mr Singh alleged that Mr Kumar and others rained punches and kicks on him on the campus after mistaking him for a Kashmiri student while he was returning after attending the meeting. Mr Singh had claimed that he was attacked again near a hospital.

In a counter complaint, Mr Kumar accused Mr Singh and his friends of assaulting him and other ABVP members.

Mr Kumar alleged that the group of students raised separatists slogans after the meeting on "Kashmir issue" following which they objected to it.

"The university has received complaints from students groups and (that) laid down procedures will be followed in dealing with the same," University Pro Vice-Chancellor 1 and official spokesperson Professor Vipin Srivastava said.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice (UoH), which is spearheading the protests over Vemula's death, today condemned the "assault" on Singh.

"In this incident, the nexus of ABVP with (Vice Chancellor) Appa Rao Podile-led HCU administration is clearly visible. N Susheel Kumar and Podile Appa Rao are amongst the prime accused in the SC&ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and abetment to suicide of Rohith Vemula and harassment of four other dalit research scholars," the JAC stated in a release.
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