Maoist plot to kill varsity head foiled

Pair had planned to drop a letter claiming the responsibility of killing the VC on behalf of the militants

Andhra Pradesh police say they have foiled a Maoist plot to kill the vice-chancellor of Hyderabad Central University, Appa Rao Podile, after arresting two former students of the institution.

East Godavari district Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni said the conspiracy was unravelled when police nabbed the two former students, Chandan Kumar Misra of West Bengal and A. Prudhviraj of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, during a routine search of vehicles at Pitchakulapadu junction on Bhadrachalam-Cherla Road on Friday.

He said the two had hatched the conspiracy to kill the Vice Chancellor at the behest of Communist Part of India Maoist state committee secretary Haribhushan to avenge the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula.

“The duo had met Haribhushan in December 2017 in Cherala forest,” the SP said while presenting the pair to journalists yesterday.

“They had discussed their plans to join the CPI Maoist and also the situation in the HCU following the suicide by Rohit Vemula.

“Their plan was to kill the vice-chancellor and attract the students to the Maoist organisation. They had planned to drop a letter claiming the responsibility of killing the VC on behalf of the Maoists,” the SP said.

Vemula hanged himself in a guesthouse at the University on January 17, 2016, in protest after he along with five other Dalit students were suspended by Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile following a clash between the members of ABVP and Ambedkar Students Association.

During the prolonged agitation by the students Appa Rao had become the major target of the students’ ire, who wanted him sacked for his alleged role in driving Rohit to suicide. In view of the agitation police had provided him round the clock security.

In view of the latest development the Cyberabad police have further tightened security for Appa Rao.

Meanwhile in Hyderabad Appa Rao said he was not aware of any conspiracy and the police “did not inform me about any threat”.

Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni said the conspiracy was unravelled when police nabbed the two former students, Chandan Kumar Misra and A. Prudhviraj.