Director General of Police K Aravinda Rao on Friday lashed out at rumour mongers who were having a field day by saying that such acts were an attempt to deliberately vitiate the peaceful atmosphere.
Mr Aravinda categorically told media persons that on no account did the police open fire at protesting students in the Osmania University on Thursday, contrary to rumours doing rounds in the city. These rumours were mostly being circulated through SMSes.
The DGP met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at the Secretariat on Friday afternoon and briefed him about the violence which took place at the OU.
The students had pelted stones and torched three buses in protest against the recommendations of the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee Report. As many as 24 police personnel, including an additional Deputy Commissioner of Police were injured in the stone pelting while the police lathicharge left four students being injured.
Mr Aravinda Rao said that the police had used only teargas shells to disperse the protestors. He added that while 12 persons were arrested in connection with the torching of the buses and the stone pelting across the state after the Report was disclosed to the public.
The DGP added that the intention of the police was to curb violence and check the students from entering the Vice-Chancellor’s lodges in the campus.
Mr Aravinda Rao added that the police cannot look on unconcerned when the students were attempting to proceed to attack the VC's lodges.
Asked why they entered the campus contrary to the Court's direction, the DGP replied that they could not afford to remain silent spectators when the students were taking law into their hands.
The DGP added that the police had strict instructions to use non-lethal small-intensity pellet-shooting guns. He added that his men were instructed not to use weapons like .303 rifles and Self-Loading Rifles.
Mr Aravinda Rao further admitted that while tension is still in the air at the Osmania University, the police are keen to ensure that it does not spread or escalate.
The DGP added that the Central Paramilitary Forces have been moved out from the varsity and only personnel of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) were stationed on the campus.