UoH students protest against moral policing on campus
The students' union of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Monday protested against the moral policing and curbing of spaces in the campus.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 5 July 2021 2:46 PM GMT
Hyderabad: The students' union of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Monday protested against the moral policing and curbing of spaces in the campus. This came after the university issued a circular preventing the students from visiting the forest area after a female student lost her way in the campus forest.
Around two weeks ago, security personnel was deployed at the entrance of each hostel in the campus. "Girls were not allowed inside other hostels. If we sat with the boys outside their hostel, the security personnel would tell us we couldn't sit there. This circular gave free rein to the security personnel. They used to take photographs with their personal phones. There was no proper redressal for them. When female students went outside the campus, the security personnel would inquire about where they were going. The university is giving a free hand to the security staff without them being answerable," said Kripa Maria George, a student at the University of Hyderabad.
Besides the circular preventing students from visiting the forest area, the chief security officer (CSO) also put out another circular stating effigy burning and "mahal juloos" will not be allowed on the campus. "In the recent past some students burnt paper, dried sticks and cloth material in buildings and in open areas on campus causing conditions of fire hazard and danger to life and material injuries," said the CSO in the circular.
To protest against these, the students' union conducted Mashal Juloos on 2 and 5 July asking the administration to revoke these circulars and remove security personnel from outside the hostel gates.
"Since the last few days, the students are being restricted. Earlier, female students could visit the boys' hostel but they have stopped that. Then the security staff used to take photographs of boys and girls found sitting together," said Abhishek Nandan, the president of the students' union.
After the protest the students' union met the Pro Vice-Chancellor who assured the students that there will be no restriction on the movement of students and the security personnel will not take any photographs.
