IFLU Evicts PhD Scholar, Yet Another Campus Unrest in the Making

Hyderabad: Even as the entire country is being rocked by controversy after controversy on premier university campuses, a PhD scholar was evicted from the campus premises of English and Foreign Languages University (Eflu) in Hyderabad on Thursday after he delivered a speech against atrocities on Dalit students. The incident took place amidst nationwide celebrations of the Dalit icon of the country Dr. BR Ambedkar's 125 anniversary.

Koonal Doogal is pursuing his PhD in Cultural Department at Eflu at Hyderabad. He claimed, “I was dragged out of the campus by a team of security guards after delivering my speech against the atrocities on Dalits. When I asked them why I was being taken away, they informed me that they received orders from the chief security officer to send me away.” He also said he was told that he needs permission of the proctor Prakash Kona to enter the campus.
After complaining about his eviction from the campus with Osmania University police, Doogal said the security officer failed to show him any order from their higher ups in this regard.

However, the proctor Prakash Kona has a different version on the incident. Prakash said Doogal has been barred from the campus since March 30. “Although he submitted his thesis in September last year, he has been a key member in a lot of anti-university activities and instigating students and creating problems on the campus. Therefore, I sought permission from the vice-chancellor and restricted his entry into the campus.” He was accused of trespassing and indulging in anti-university activities, he said, adding that his entry into the campus including the hostels is strictly prohibited except with a proctor's permission.

OU police inspector Ashok Reddy said Eflu's chief security officer also filed a complaint against Doogal stating that the student trespassed the university and obstructed the security officials from performing their duty. The police are investigating into the matter.

Meanwhile, University of Hyderabad (UoH) Joint Action Committee for Social Justice accused the Eflu of trying to snuff out voices speaking up for Dalits. “It is unfortunate that on Ambedkar's birth anniversary, the university tried to suppress voices on Dalit issues,'' said the committee member, Arpita Jaya. “Together, we will fight against the casteist Eflu administration', she said. It may be recalled that the Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula committed suicide on the HCU campus after evicting from hostels on similar grounds.