AP HC directs police to leave Osmania University

After two days of clashes between the police and the students, which left more than 25 people including six journalists injured, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday, ordered the police and the paramilitary forces to leave the Osmania University Campus in Hyderabad.

The use of force by the police and para military forces against the students as well as journalists has evoked angry reaction all over the state and there were protest demonstrations at several places.

In Hyderabad, a large number of journalists gheraoed half a dozen ministers including the home minister Sabita Indra Reddy in the secretariat demanding the immediate suspension of  the policemen responsible for the attacks on the journalists.

The  baton charges continued for the second day on Monday and four journalists were injured in the melee. Journalists said that the police officials deliberately targeted them holding them responsible for the trouble.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah has orrdered a high level inquiry in to the incident, he also directed the ministers for home and information to convene a meeting to discuss the situation. Journalists also held demonstrations and blocked traffic at many places in the state against the incidents in Hyderabad.

Justice Narasimha Reddy of the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed police officer BSR Anjaneyalu not enter the Osmania campus. The court said city police commissioner A K Khan and station house officer of Osmania University police station could supervise security on the campus.

The court said that the students had the right to hold peaceful protest on the campus. The police could only search the hostels if the vice chancellor requested them to do so.  He also ordered the police to remove its barricades and tents from the campus. Soon after the high court passed the order, the para military forces including Rapid Action Force left the campus.