A Dalit professor, Changaiah, was reportedly assaulted by members of a right-wing group inside the Sri Venkateswara University campus in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday. Dr. Changaiah, who serves as the dean of the Department of Electrical Engineering, is known for his advocacy for social justice and Dalit rights.
According to a report on India Today, the incident began when a group of individuals, allegedly affiliated with the Bajrang Dal, entered the university premises and engaged in a heated argument with Changaiah. The confrontation quickly escalated into a physical attack, leaving the professor injured.
Authorities have since registered a case and initiated an investigation. Law enforcement officials have launched a search operation to apprehend the suspects involved in the attack.
ALSO READ: Tragic Chaos At Pushpa 2 Premiere In Hyderabad: Woman Dies, Child Critical After Stampede
This incident has raised concerns about the safety of Dalit community members, marking the second such attack reported within a week. On November 27, a 27-year-old Dalit man, Narad Jatav, was allegedly beaten to death in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district by the local sarpanch and his family over a dispute involving access to a common handpump, as per the report.
In another recent incident, a Dalit associate professor at Lucknow University was assaulted on campus by a member of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, following a mob attack by students affiliated with the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) just days earlier, reported Times of India. However, there is no clarity yet on the action reportedly taken by the university authorities.