HCU VC Appa Rao resumes charge amid protests

University of Hyderabad VC Prof Appa Rao Podile, who went on leave at the height of an agitation over the suicide of research scholar Rohith Vemula, today resumed charge amid protests from a section of students, who ransacked his official residence leading to tension on the campus. Raising slogans against the Vice Chancellor, agitating students barged into his residence (VC's lodge), broke window panes, smashed doors and television among other items, protesting against his resumption of duty. Prof Podile, who is in the eye of a storm over Vemula's suicide on January 17, had proceeded on leave on January 24 as the agitating students demanded his resignation and held vigorous protests seeking "justice" for Vemula. A battery of high-profile leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal had visited HCU at the height of protests. Based on a complaint by a section of students, Cyberabad police had registered a case against Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Podile and three others in connection with the suicide. Podile was scheduled to hold a press conference this morning but it was cancelled following the violence. One of the protesting students said, "Our primary demand is that the VC should not come...we lost Rohith Vemula. He (Podile) is one of the culprits. Its almost over two months since the incident but no action has been initiated." The protesting students demanded that the VC be immediately arrested. A large number of police personnel were deployed near the Vice Chancellor's lodge as tension prevailed on the campus. D Prashant, one of the five suspended students, said the VC had no moral right to resume duties and conduct an Executive Committee meeting as a case with regard to Vemula s suicide was still pending against him. "At the behest of (Union Minister) Venkaiah Naidu, he (VC) came to UoH (University of Hyderabad, also called HCU). At the behest of central government, he occupied the VC seat despite the fact that the whole University resisted against it," he said. .