HYDERABAD: Tension prevailed on Osmania University campus and the Nizam College hostel on Monday when police prevented students from taking out rallies. The police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to prevent the students from leaving the campuses and, in the resultant violence, six students and an equal number of cops suffered injuries. The police have booked several cases and arrested 37 students in connection with the violence.Trouble began on OU campus when Telangana Rashtra Samithi Vidyarthi Vibhag (TRSVV) started taking out a rally to NCC gate in the morning. The students were trying to march to the Secretariat in support of Sakala Janula Samme when the police stopped them. Over a hundred students participated in the march.

As the police stalled their march, the students pelted stones at them from inside the campus. The police retaliated by firing about 16 rounds of tear gas shells. The standoff between the students and the police went on for over an hour at the NCC gate. The agitating students were, however, not able to cross the police cordon at the gate.

While retreating to the Arts College they stopped in front of Ladies’ Hostel and pelted stones at the police deployed at the entry points. The standoff in front of the hostel lasted for over an hour before the students left the place shouting slogans demanding the withdrawal of police force from the campus. “We condemn the attack on students and want the government to order the removal of police forces from the campus,” said Tirumani Kondal, TRSVV student leader.

As TV channels started broadcasting the visuals of violence on OU campus, enraged Nizam College students started coming out of their hostel located at Basheerbagh to take out a rally towards the assembly. However, they were stopped by a small team of police at the hostel gate.

In retaliation students started pelting stones and damaged four four-wheelers including the hired Qualis vehicle of Saifabad police. Meanwhile, reinforcements led by DCP Akun Sabharwal rushed to the spot and s chased the students back into the hostel. In the ensuing stone-pelting by students, six constables including the DCP’s gunman suffered injuries. The police trooped into the hostel and took 85 students into custody.

After interrogation 37 students were arrested under the charges of violating prohibitory orders, assaulting public servants, damaging public and private property.

Four students suffered injuries in the police lathi-charge and were admitted to the Osmania General Hospital.

“We went inside the hostel along with Nizam College principal Narsinga Rao and student welfare officer Jaiswal to arrest the students in their presence,” Akun Sabharwal said.

However, student union leaders alleged that police lathicharge was unwarranted. “The students who were in the hostel were also beaten up by the police. We condemn this and want an apology from DCP,” said M Krishank, OU JAC spokesperson. The protestors also demanded the release of 30 students who were arrested and removed from OU campus on Monday.