University of Hyderabad revokes suspension of four Dalit students

Hyderabad: After witnessing huge political turmoil over the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula, the Hyderabad Central University on Thursday revoked suspension of four other Dalit students, who were suspended along with the deceased.

The decision to revoke the suspension was taken by the Executive Council of the university.

"After taking into account the extraordinary situation prevailing in the university, and after discussing the issue in detail, it resolved to terminate the punishment imposed on the students concerned with immediate effect," a statement by the university said.

Vice Chancellor P Appa Rao has appealed to "the university community to maintain calmness and harmony under the extraordinary circumstances prevailing on the campus and repose faith in the internal mechanisms to resolve the issue".

The order came after various political parties and leaders blamed Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya's letter dated August 17, 2015, to Smriti Irani, seeking action against the "anti-national activities" of Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) and the alleged assault of an ABVP leader and a series of (five) communications from the HRD Ministry between September 03 and November 19 demanding follow up action for the suicide.

Rohith Vemula was found hanging from the ceiling of a room in the New Research Scholars' Hostel late on Sunday. He was one of the five Dalit students suspended from the university and expelled from the hostel. Before committing suicide, he had been staging a protest on the campus for 15 days.