Scores of students today staged a protest near the RSS office in Jhandewalan demanding punishment for the "culprits" behind the "institutional victimisation" of Hyderabad Central University's Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, whose suicide has triggered outrage.
The protesters were stopped by police while marching to the RSS headquarters here but they pulled down the barricade and tried to move ahead.
According to police, the agitation continued for around two and half hours and ended at around 6 PM. The protesters broke open the first barricade but could not break the second where maximum force was deployed, police said.
The protesters alleged use of force by the police to stop their march adding that some students were taken to hospital due to injuries.
A news portal also alleged that one of their photo journalists was assaulted by the police and that his camera was snatched.
However, police denied any use of force or detaining any protesters.
"No protesters were detained and no force had to be used at all," DCP (Central) Parmaditya said.
"January 30 marks the 27th birthday of Rohith Vemula and martyrdom day of Gandhiji. Both were victims of witch hunt by RSS. Rohith and his friends were victimised by BJP ministers for challenging RSS politics," All India Students Association (AISA) alleged in a press statement.
"Come what may, our struggle will continue till Hyderabad Central University VC, Smriti Irani and Dattatraya resign," said Shweta Raj, president of AISA unit in JNU.
