A student from the group that visited arrested students and faculty at Cherlapally Jail on March 24 addresses a meeting on the University of Hyderabad campus: 'The students inside were very clear that the only thing they were worried about was that the movement outside would be low. So they have explicitly said: "Please keep up the fight within the campus, and as soon as we are released, we will be back with our full energies."'
Part of Eklavya Speaks, a series of video narratives from UoH, at Justice for Rohith
The following report from Cherlapally Jail was shared by UoH research fellow Prasheel Anand Banpur earlier today:
Cherlapally Mulaqat Enclosure
March 24, 4.15 – 4.40 pm (appr.)
Prasheel Anand Banpur, Vinesh Kondra, Moses John Paul
Met With: Dontha Prashanth, Manne Krishank, Goutham Uyyala, Mudavath Venkatesh
Apart from requesting us to call their parents or to safeguard their vehicles which were parked in campus, the following are the statements from the four arrested students:
Journey Since Arrest
The protesting students were Lathi Charged and at 5pm were taken in two groups to Gachibowli PS remanded for some time and biodata was taken, then transported to Kukkatpally PS and held for a while, then taken to Miyapur PS, then taken to Narsingi PS where the night was spent, transported then to Moinabad PS, then transported through village inroads, then waited for a long time near Nacharam, apparently near the magistrate’s house, and then to Cherlapally Jail at 12.30 am on March 24.
Treatment During Arrest
The arrested students were beaten continuously by the police while being transported from one police station to another, their phones were snatched, and they were not given any information regarding their arrest or where they were being taken. The FIR and cases were filed without intimation or knowledge of the arrested students.
During the arrest, students being arrested were abused constantly, humiliated, and were called insulting names and labelled as naxalites and vandals. When asked why they were being treated as if they were hardcore criminals, the police replied that they were anti-nationals and that they had no Human Rights. They reiterated that all their Human Rights had collapsed and no negotiation was possible.
The police did not even allow phone calls to be made and created complete isolation for the arrested students. The police also took videos and photos of the students eating and talking amongst themselves.
The Muslim students who had been arrested were beaten and accused of being Pakistanis, and labelled as anti-national and wanting to destroy India.
The arrested students were also repeatedly accused of possessing drugs and indulging in drug-related activities, despite the students' denying it outright.
The arrested students were then asked to sign on the cases that they were accused of, after which all the students had to sign on this document. But they mentioned it clearly that they were doing it under force and not voluntarily.
The two professors were slapped repeatedly, their shirts were torn and they were humiliated in the worst of ways regarding their profession and duties.
Arrival at Jail
Around 12.30 am on March 24, 2016 they were brought in two police trucks amidst high security and put up in the barracks as ISI terrorists, hawala mafia, murderers, mafia, and others serving rigorous imprisonment were put up. When Dontha Prashanth and Krishank Manne wanted to fast in the jail to protest the inhuman, unjust, and undemocratic treatment of the arrested students, the authorities blackmailed them saying they would publicise the videos they had taken of the students when they were eating the night before.
Message from Jail
It should be known to people outside regarding the inhuman and sadistic treatment of the arrested students by the police authorities till they reached the Cherlapally Jail. They also said it was important to keep the struggle on for ensuring democratic rights to the students and the people of India.
It should be known to people outside regarding the inhuman and sadistic treatment of the arrested students by the police authorities till they reached the Cherlapally Jail. They also said it was important to keep the struggle on for ensuring democratic rights to the students and the people of India.
