One year of Rohith’s suicide: Radhika Vemula detained at Hyderabad University campus

Rohith Vemula, a 26-year-old PhD student at University of Hyderabad, committed suicide on January 17, 2016 after he was suspended over a political drift

By: Zainab Ahmed |
January 17, 2017 9:41 pm

Rohith Vemula’s mother, Radhika Vemula, has been arrested for protesting at University of Hyderabad on his first death anniversary. Rohith committed suicide this day, an year ago in Hyderabad Central University campus. His suicide sparked protests all across the country and made us question the indiscrimination that the students have been facing in the campus of these educational institutes.

The students of the University of Hyderabad held a protest outside the university seeking justice for Vemula. Reportedly, the students also clashed with the police during the protest. The students all across India and Rohith’s family members have been demanding justice ever since he committed suicide. These protesters have vowed to continue fighting till the court issues a favourable verdict in the case.

While the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, a students’ group, held a meeting in the campus to mark the ‘shahaadat din’ (martyrdom day), various student groups in Delhi also held a solidarity march for Rohith Vemula and to mark National Rohith Day.

Rohith Vemula, a 26-year-old PhD student at University of Hyderabad, committed suicide on January 17, 2016 after he allegedly assaulted ABVP activist N Susheel Kumar who raised concern over demonstrations against the death penalty for Yakub Memon which was organised for Rohith Vemula and four other ASA-activists. ABVP had submitted a report to the then Union Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani that the five students were involved in “anti-national” activities. Following which, Rohith Vemula along with the four other ASA-activists were suspended and barred from entering their hostels. Following the suspension, Rohith Vemula committed suicide.