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28 March 2024

Expelled student commits suicide in India

Published
By Reuters

Tension prevailed at a university in India's southern state of Telangana after a student committed suicide in the boys' hostel on Sunday (January 17).

The student, Rohith Vemula, was expelled from state-run University of Hyderabad along with four other students last year and from the hostel a fortnight ago for allegedly attacking another group of students.

The protesters opposing the university's decision and demanding reinstatement were on a sleep-in strike in the open on campus since they were expelled.

Vemula’s body was found hanging in his hostel room.

Vemula's brother demanded that the vice chancellor of the university be sacked.

"I need an explanation from VC (Vice Chancellor) and registrar. I have been here from 8.30pm (1500 GMT), till now it is four hours. So even till now (the) VC didn't come here and he didn't give any explanation. I need an immediate explanation and need him (here) right now as I need to take the body for post mortem," said Vemula's brother.

Vemula, a native of southern state of Andhra Pradesh, was pursuing his Ph.D at the university for the last two years.

His suicide reinvigorated protests by the student bodies. Protesters sat outside the hostel and raised slogans demanding action against authorities.

Security forces were summoned to the campus to avoid any untoward incident.