Hyderabad University PhD Student Commits Suicide, Allegations Of Persecution
In a tragic incident, one of the five Dalit scholars expelled by the University of Hyderabad (UoH) last year, committed suicide on Sunday by hanging himself at a hostel. Rohit Vemula, a resident of Guntur, was pursuing his PhD in science technology and society studies for the past two years.
Rohit was expelled by the university for allegedly attacking group of another students in August 2015. Then the university ordered a probe and the final decision by the proctorial board (disciplinary authority of the Institute) led to the expulsion of Rohit along with four others.
Since then they were barred from entering the administrative building, hostels, libraries, mess and other common areas. Their friends have alleged that they suffered social boycott.
The PhD scholar had been sleeping in the open along with other expelled students for the past two weeks, demanding reinstatement. On Sunday evening during the protest, Rohit managed to enter the NRS hostel, locked himself and took the extreme step.
According to Rohit’s friend Venkat, he was “heartbroken” that his requests for an appointment with the Vice Chancellor had been ignored even though he had been living in the open for days.
”Even Dalit professors who came to meet us supported the Vice Chancellor rather than us,” Rohit reportedly told Venkat on Sunday morning. Hours later, he allegedly went quietly into a hostel room and hanged himself.
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After Rohit’s alleged suicide, a group of students sat with his body all night, raising slogans and demanding that the authorities hear them out. A police team came this morning, arrested eight students and took away the body.