Students living in Osmania University Post Graduate Girls Hostel staged a protest on Saturday following a security breach in which miscreants were found breaking into their premises.
The protesting students were observed chanting slogans like "We want justice" in front of their hostel.
One student questioned the media, "We are just asking for VC to come. Why is he not coming?" Another student emphasized, "We are just trying to pressurize the VC to come."
What is the police saying?
A police officer assured the students that necessary security facilities would be provided soon. "I will ensure that whatever facilities, whatever thing needs to be done are done within time. I will get it done within whatever time they say," she asserted.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), North Zone, Rohini Priyadarshini, reported that the police were called to the hostel late at night on Friday. The security personnel and students had already caught a miscreant attempting to breach the compound wall. She said, "An unknown man scaled up the compound wall and entered the PG girls' hostel. The accused was arrested by the students and the security guards."
The DCP explained, "When we were about to leave, the students gathered and obstructed the vehicle and did not allow the vehicle to move." The police were addressing the situation when the students conveyed their demands.
DCP Priyadarshini inspected the campus and identified security lapses in the hostel, which were communicated to the Registrar. "We asked what their demands are...I spoke to them, went to the campus, and noticed the security lapses," she stated.
The DCP mentioned addressing administrative issues at the VC and Registrar level and emphasized the need for written demands from the students. Patrols outside the campus and additional security measures were assured.
Regarding the number of miscreants involved, the DCP stated, "We are yet to investigate." She mentioned the necessity of registering a case but noted that no one had come forward with a petition.
What happened in the hostel premises? What are the students saying?
One student protester recounted hearing strange sounds since their return from Sankranti Holidays. Incidents involving hands seen through ventilators in washrooms were reported on the ground and first floors. The students claimed to have seen three individuals, with one apprehended.
A student told ANI, "Yesterday, the incident happened on two of the floors, the ground floor as well as first floor at the same time. We have ventilators in our washrooms. The washrooms have little space. She (one of the students) locked herself in the washroom. But she saw hands coming out of the ventilator. She panicked and ran."
The student also added, ""The same incident took place on the ground floor. We approached our seniors. We were searching for them. We saw three of them, only one was caught by us. We are demanding the rest who were there to be arrested."
Demanding the Vice-Chancellor's presence, a student protester said, "We want the VC to come and address our problem and we want a solution for all our issues. Security is important. We want proper security where we are staying."
