April 01, 2026 05:31 pm (IST)
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Dalit research scholar "suicide" rattles Hyderabad university campus
Hyderabad, Jan 18 (IBNS) The alleged suicide of a 22-year-old Dalit research scholar at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) following his alleged ouster from hostel earlier, has triggered a wave of protest.
Vermula Rohit, a resident of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, was pursuing his PhD in society studies from the university. He allegedly committed suicide on Sunday by hanging himself at the hostel from where he was thrown out, sparking a protest.
He with other four research scholars were in a protest staying in tent after their expulsion over an assault of a student leader.
Police said he was one of the five research scholars who were suspended by UoH in August last year in the case of assault on a student leader belonging to ABVP (BJP student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parisad).
Police said he was one of the five research scholars who were suspended by UoH in August last year in the case of assault on a student leader belonging to ABVP (BJP student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parisad).
All five research scholars belonged to Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) and they were protesting and with other unions like SFI, Dalit Students Union and National Students Association were on a relay hunger strike.
Students began a protest with Rohit's body after his hanging and later eight students were arrested.
Rohit's friends said he was shattered when the Vice Chancellor denied him an appointment though he was out in the open for days living in a tent after they were banned in the varsity hostel.
Media reports in NDTV said while Rohit was cleared in the case of assault after a probe, union minister Bandaru Dattatreya had written to Education Minister Smriti Irani for action holding that the university remained a mute spectator to the attack on a student and how it has "become a den of casteist, extremist and anti-national politics."
In December, they were barred from the hostel and other common areas.
Students began a protest with Rohit's body after his hanging and later eight students were arrested.
Rohit's friends said he was shattered when the Vice Chancellor denied him an appointment though he was out in the open for days living in a tent after they were banned in the varsity hostel.
Media reports in NDTV said while Rohit was cleared in the case of assault after a probe, union minister Bandaru Dattatreya had written to Education Minister Smriti Irani for action holding that the university remained a mute spectator to the attack on a student and how it has "become a den of casteist, extremist and anti-national politics."
In December, they were barred from the hostel and other common areas.
Meanwhile, the university authorities in a communique said :"The University shall remain closed on 18th January, 2016 due to unforeseen circumstances".
Image: FB Photo of Rohit
Image: FB Photo of Rohit
#Hyderabad University
# Dalit student suicide
# Rohit
# Rohit Vemula
# Student protest
# Dalit protest
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