HYDERABAD: Who is responsible for our friend’s death? asked the four
complainants
in the
Rohith Vemula case
that was declared closed by
Cyberabad police
on Friday, citing lack of evidence. The four
Dalit PhD scholars
, along with Rohith, were expelled from the
University of Hyderabad
hostel — 13 days before the latter’s suicide — for allegedly indulging in “anti-national” activities on campus.
After Rohith’s death, they lodged a complaint with the cops accusing the then university V-C and five others of alleged
harassment
and
social boycott
. “Who are the police to declare that someone is not responsible for Rohith’s death? Or pronounce judgement on his caste?” asked Ch Seshaiah. “We will keep fighting to get Rohith’s caste certificate and ensure justice is served,” said the former UoH student, now working as lecturer at a private college.
The four are planning to file a protest petition claiming the
police report
has multiple ambiguous statements. The main complainant also alleged that no notice was served to him before submission of the final report. “We are still waiting in front of the police station for a chargesheet to be filed in the case. How can we be denied justice without even approaching court?” questioned Sunkanna Velpula.
The PhD scholar now works as a farmer. Terming the report a political move drafted at the behest of BJP leaders, the complainants alleged it was done to safeguard the accused in case the party does not win the Lok Sabha elections. “We have already been branded anti-national and lost everything because of the case. Now, we are not leaving it mid-way,” said Velpula adding, “Despite having a PhD, I am working as a farmer as no college wants to hire me because of this case.”
His application for assistant professor post has been rejected by 30 colleges so far. “The system has been insulting Rohith with discussion over his caste... Why are they not looking into real reasons? If police decide the case, what are the courts for?” said P Vijay Kumar, who works as state general secretary of JanaSena.
English (US) ·