An FIR, or First Information Report, was filed against 11 students of English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) Hyderabad for their involvement in a student protest against the university’s alleged inaction regarding a sexual assault case involving a female student.
The FIR was filed following a complaint by Samson Thomas, the Proctor of EFLU.
Students alleged that the university administration and the proctor unjustly portrayed their protest against the university’s inaction on a sexual assault case with a communal and Islamophobic angle. The students alleged that the FIR falsely associated the protest with Muslim Students Federation EFLU unit’s scheduled academic discussion related to Israeli aggression in Palestine.
The students were charged under sections 153, 143, 153A, read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These sections pertain to unlawful assembly and promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, or residence.
Fraternity Movement EFLU unit in a statement said that they vehemently denounce the baseless accusation by EFLU’s Proctor against the students who participated in the protest related to the sexual assault incident on campus that occurred on 18 October.
The students who were named in the FIR include the leaders of student groups Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students Association and Fraternity Movement as well as individual students.
The FIR is replete with falsehoods, even down to the minutest details, Fraternity Movement said.
The list of the accused includes the names of the students who were not there at all, a student said to Maktoob.
“A student named in the FIR was there in his hometown in Kerala,” the student who requested anonymity said.
The professors who were sensitive to the survivor and supported her through out have been unfairly portrayed in the complaint filed by the FIR, the Fraternity Movement said.
“This FIR appears to be a deliberate effort to divert attention from the administration’s mishandling of the alleged assault, conveniently shifting the blame onto the organizers of an academic discussion titled ‘Palestine: Perspectives on Literary Resistance.’ Labelling this discussion as ‘in favor of Palestine’ is a distortion of the facts,” the student group said.
The administration seems to be systematically trying to discredit the genuine concerns by framing the protest in a communal light and fueling deeply Islamophobic sentiments, it said.
“The Proctor claim of experiencing ‘psychological trauma, stress, and helplessness’ is a grossly exaggerated allegation, showing a lack of respect and empathy for the survivor of the assault. The Proctor’s actions seem geared towards concealing administrative failures by falsely accusing student leaders. This indicates a concerning effort to evade responsibility for mishandling a sexual assault case,” read the statement.
“This distorted narrative, tainted by Islamophobia, aims to suppress the protest and to divide the student unity. The glaring omission of ABVP members from the list of accused individuals conspicuously underscores the Proctor’s apparent inclination to promote Islamophobia. It is imperative to uphold truth and justice in the face of such blatant manipulation of events,” it said.
A female student at the EFLU was sexually assaulted late Wednesday night, leading students to stage a massive protest against the university’s lack of action in response to the incident.
The assault occurred hours after the students had conducted a night long massive protest, during which they demanded the reconstitution of the Sensitisation, Prevention, and Redressal of Sexual Harassment (SPARSH) Committee at the University.
The female student had participated in the protest alongside approximately 300 other students, which ended on Wednesday evening, and the attack occurred as a result of this protest, EFLU students said to Maktoob.
The student alleged that despite informing the management about the sexual assault incident around midnight, no immediate action was taken.
The student further said that the female student was found unconscious by two students, who then transported her to a medical facility located within the campus for treatment.
The student alleged that the staff at the medical facility asked her to “keep the matter to herself,” while the management attempted to downplay the issue and refused to take action.
The students who started the protest at approximately 5 a.m. on Wednesday within the campus have been calling for the resignation of Vice-Chancellor E. Suresh Kumar and Proctor T. Samson. Over 200 students have joined the protest.
The students’ demands include the resignation of the VC and the entire Proctoral Board, as well as holding the head of security guards accountable for the security lapse.
The students are also demanding an apology from the Registrar for repeatedly inquiring about the woman’s name in public, as well as an apology from the warden and healthcare staff on campus for shaming her.
A student said to Maktoob that the police officers assaulted them to make way for Vice-Chancellor Suresh Kumar.
 Hyderabad for their involvement in a student protest against the university's alleged inaction regarding a sexual assault case involving a female student.){kind=link}