Withdraw Central forces from OU: AP High Court

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Feb. 15: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday ordered the state government to withdraw all paramilitary and special forces deployed in the Osmania University campus immediately.

Justice L. Narasimha Reddy criticised the police for its high-handed behaviour in tackling the campus situation and singled out the joint commissioner,

Mr P.S.R. Anjaneyulu, for sharper criticism for the way he conducted himself.

Girl students on the campus had been terrified with the uniformed ranks behaving like hardcore hooligans, the Judge said while dealing with a lunch motion moved by three students of the university.

At the same time, the High Court also asked students not to disturb classes and exams and warned that they would be taken to task if they resort to acts of criminal intimidation or violence.

“This court is of the view that the deployment of police in the campus has not only tarnished the image of the university, but also created a situation of panic and insecurity,” said Justice Reddy.

To keep peace in the university, the government should deploy an adequate number of civil police personnel in the university police station, the court said.

They can take care of any untoward incident in OU, and special forces can be deployed with the Vice-Chancellor’s permission only when the situation goes out of control. The court said there were no records of arson, murder or brutal attack at OU.

“If one goes by channel news, one feels the police is determined to enter the campus in thousands without provocation,” said Justice Reddy. “Mostly, troubles start due to unwarranted police reaction.”

When the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Satyam Reddy, complained about Mr Anjaneyulu, the judge asked the state counsel to take steps to prevent his entry into the campus.