A controversy has erupted at Satavahana University in Telangana after a Dalit woman professor and a Dalit student were allegedly branded as “Urban Naxals” and subjected to sustained harassment, drawing sharp criticism from academics and rights groups.
The Telangana Save Education Committee has urged immediate intervention, calling the allegations “baseless” and warning that they could undermine the academic environment.
According to the committee, Head of the Sociology department at the university, Sujatha Surepally, and one student from the Economics department, Karike Mahesh, are being falsely accused by a section of students of having links with the Maoist party and labelled them as ‘urban naxals’.
It was said that such allegations were being circulated through complaints to officials and on social media, creating a hostile academic environment on the campus.
Senior members of the Committee, including K Chakradhar Rao, G Haragopal, and K Lakshminarayana, strongly condemned the development.
“Despite possessing all the necessary qualifications and experience, removing a Dalit woman professor, who also serves as Principal, is an act of vindictiveness,” said the professors, who are the President and Secretaries of the Committee.
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