The professor alleged that the assault took place in presence of the police and university staff.
Published Dec 06, 2024 | 10:39 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 06, 2024 | 10:39 PM
A Dalit Professor, Chengaiah, was assaulted by people in saffron shawls in Tirupati's Sri Venkateshwara University
A group of men wearing saffron shawls assaulted a Dalit professor at the Sri Venkateshwara University (SVU) in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati.
The professor, Dr Ch Chengaiah, told South First that the men belonged to Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and ABVP, the students’ wing of BJP.
It has been alleged that the professor was manhandled in his office in police presence.
“Who are you and what are you preaching,” one of the assailants asked while another one mocked the professor. “You think I can’t beat you if you sit in your chair?” he threatened, asking Chengaiah to come out.
Professor Chengaiah is the Head of the Electrical Engineering Department at SVU. He has been an advocate of Dalit rights. It has been alleged that he was roughed up for promoting Christianity on the campus.
A #Dalit professor of Sri Venkateswara University in #AndhraPradesh‘s #Tirupati was allegedly beaten up by members of a right-wing group on Wednesday.
Dr Ch Changaiah, professor and dean of the department of electrical engineering, was roughed up allegedly by #BajrangDal members… pic.twitter.com/LFty9otYlQ
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) December 4, 2024
In a video circulated on social media, the assailants could be seen yelling at Chengaiah.
“Did you change your name?” one asked while another asked the professor to expand the abbreviation, SVU. They entered his cabin at about 3 pm on 2 December, and accused him of promoting Christianity in his classes.
As the argument escalated, the assailants threatened him with violence, and pulled him out of his chair.
Holding on to his collar, the group continued yelling at him, taking issue with the books he read and the alleged promotion of the Bible during classes.
Soon, the group started beating up the professor.
“Even if I have committed a mistake, they should have approached the Vice-Chancellor or the administration. They are not supposed to come into my cabin during work and beat me up,” Professor Chengaiah told South First.
He alleged that the men belonged to the VHP, ABVP, and the Bajrang Dal.
He also said that they entered his office chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” and proceeded to hit him following the argument.
The professor said the men damaged his car, and added that they were not students at SVU. “I’m a Dailt who’s come here based on my own effort. It feels like this is a ploy to destroy my career,” he further opined.
Chengaiah reported that the police and the college staff were at the scene during the incident. “It baffles me how they entered when the police were already there. It felt like a cinematic conspiracy, something pre-planned. Even as they began to hit me, the police made only half-hearted attempts to prevent them. I was beaten up in their presence,” he said.
He added that the SVU had approached the police with a complaint on his behalf. “The authority has gone to them with a complaint on my behalf, but I’m yet to hear back, I’m yet to see an FIR,” he said, adding that he didn’t even have access to a copy of the complaint.
Later, the Bahujan Samaj Party staged a protest in solidarity with Chengaiah in front of the Vizianagaram Collector’s office on 4 December in Vizianagaram.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
