HC tells cops to stay off Osmania varsity campus

Censuring the police for its excess use of force against Osmania University students on Sunday, the AP High Court on Monday directed
the state director general of police (DGP) and the Hyderabad police commissioner to immediately withdraw the entire paramilitary and special forces deployed on the university campus. The court also directed the police to remove the tents, barricades, etc set up on the campus.

Justice L Narasimha Reddy made this interim order after hearing an urgent lunch motion moved by U Anitha, an OU student, and three others who challenged the entry of police into their campus and sought their withdrawal.

Addressing the state counsel, the judge wanted to know if the state and its police were treating Telangana as Pakistan and the OU campus as the Wagah border. “Why this hungama? Was there any looting, arson or murder? Even girl students were ill treated. Who is this PSR Anjaneyulu, the joint commissioner of police, who orders mayhem first and then apologises to the media at the end of the day. He must not enter the campus,” the judge observed while hearing the case.

S Satyam Reddy, the counsel for the petitioners, told the court that Sunday’s police action on students and journalists was totally unprovoked and uncalled for. “The police attack was indiscriminate and aimed at creating terror in the minds of the students due to which they now feel insecure on their own campus,” he said and added that girl students were badly abused.

Agreeing with the counsel, the judge was critical of the way the police behaved with the students. They blocked all the ways, switched off the power and created a mayhem, the judge said.

Further, the judge said some police officers were ensuring that the campus remained on fire. “While it was Stephen (Ravindra) who was responsible for the previous mayhem at the campus, it was Anjaneyulu this time. Stephen was thrown out after the first incident because the government realised the damage later. Your DGP is not acting up to his level,” justice Narasimha Reddy said.

According to sources, the state government is likely to challenge the interim order.

Special government pleader S Sriram told the court that the police entered the campus after an objective assessment of a threat perception. A CRPF tent was set on fire when there were eight persons inside. Some students broke open the police cordon at Tarnaka, the special government counsel said.

Dismissing the counsel’s views, the judge said, “there was no such provocation at all. This court is of the view that the police in thousands have determined to enter the campus and create tension and insecurity on the campus.” However, he directed the authorities to keep the civilian forces at the local police station to be available in case of any trouble.

But, the judge said, they should be sent in only at the request of the vice chancellor. “They can verify whether a person is a student, hosteller or an outsider,” the judge said.

On their part, the students should not disturb any classes or examinations. The violators should be dealt with in accordance with the law, the judge said. The judge advised the university to have a security of its own to regulate the entry of vehicles or individuals into the campus.