Dalit PhD scholar thrown out of Eflu

Hyderabad, Apr 19: A Dalit scholar in the English and Foreign Languages University (Eflu) has alleged that he was forcibly removed from the campus at the behest of the varsity’s proctor.

Dalit research scholar

Koonal Doogal, a native of Punjab, has filed a complaint against Prakash Kona
Reddy, the proctor, here.

Osmania University Police said Doogal alleged that he was prevented from entering the Eflu campus.Doogal, a PhD research scholar at the Department of Cultural Studies at Eflu, said in his complaint that he was dragged out of the campus by the security guards while he was attending the Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations.

“In a clear case of high-handedness and arbitrariness, four security guards dragged me out from the venue in the full glare of fellow students and teachers. I was treated like a criminal, thereby causing public humiliation and embarrassment,” he said. “When I enquired why I had to be removed from the venue, I was informed that the security guards have received an order ‘restricting’ my entry into Eflu campus, where I currently study. I was told that I should go and talk to the proctor who had issued the order. I was never informed about such a restricting order. I have not participated in any unlawful activities,” he said in the police complaint.

The research scholar alleged that the whole incident was meant to humiliate him in front of his peers and faculty. “I feel that the alleged restricting order, issued without any prior information and without following any procedural norms, is an arbitrary attack on me as a Dalit student. Such an order will also restrict me from using the University facilities which I require for doing my research,” he said.

Doogal is pursuing his PhD on “caste and religious politics in contemporary Punjab”. Associated with the Dalit Adivasi Bahujan Minority Association, he is also working as a guest faculty at the University of Hyderabad.

However, the proctor denied the allegations and said Doogal’s entry into the campus had been barred since March 30. “He submitted his thesis in September last year. He has been a key member in a lot of anti-university activities. He has been instigating students and creating problems on the campus.
Therefore, I sought permission from the vice-chancellor and restricted his entry into the campus,” the proctor said.

The Eflu chief security officer, in his counter complaint against Doogal, said that the research scholar tried to trespass and obstruct the security officials from performing their duty. “We will investigate the matter,” said the inspector of the Osmania University police station, Ashok Reddy.