Research scholar at Hyderabad Central University found hanging; students protest

Five research scholars, including the deceased, were suspended earlier from the hostel for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader

A Dalit PhD scholar was found hanging at a central university's hostel room located on the varsity campus today, police said.

"V Rohit (around 26) was found hanging in the hostel room. He was among the five research scholars who were suspended by Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in August last year and also one of the accused in the case of assault on a student leader," Cyberabad Police Commissioner C V Anand told PTI.

The suspension was revoked later.

Further investigation in the case is on.

Earlier, the five research scholars were suspended from the hostel for rest of their study period for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.

Meanwhile, mild tension prevailed on the campus today after scores of students gathered and held demonstration along with Rohit's body and raised slogans.

They demanded police to register a case under SC/ST Atrocity Act against Union minister and BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya while alleging that he had written to HRD ministry seeking action against these research scholars.

A section of students had last week laid a siege to the Administrative Building of the HCU against the suspension of the research scholars.

The students under the umbrella of a Joint Action Committee had termed the suspension as "undemocratic" and as a "social boycott" since the five research scholars were denied access to hostels and were forced to sleep in a makeshift tent on the campus.

Based on the recommendations of a sub-committee of the Executive Council, the five were denied access to hostels on the campus except their classrooms and workshops related to their subject of study.

The council had recommended the punishment based on a Proctorial Committee inquiry. The committee was constituted after an ABVP activist was attacked on the campus, police said.