On December 2, 2024, members of several Hindu nationalist groups beat Professor Chengaiah, the head of the electrical engineering department at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU), and an advocate of Dalit rights. 

The individuals who attacked Chengaiah were affiliated with Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and unaffiliated with SVU. They entered Professor Chengaiah’s office, accused him of promoting Christianity in his classes, and threatened him with violence. As the argument escalated, the assailants pulled Professor Chengaiah out of his chair and began to beat him. Professor Chengaiah reported that police and other college staff were present during the time of the attack but did not intervene. 

Police launched an investigation into the attack, but, at the timing of writing, no findings were publicly available. 

Scholars at Risk is concerned about an apparently targeted attack on a scholar. State authorities should take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to such attacks, including by holding perpetrators accountable, in accordance with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, violent, targeted attacks on scholars undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
Hans India
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/dalit-professor-andhra-pradesh-sri-venkateswara-university-bajrang-dal-2644701-2024-12-04
https://thesouthfirst.com/andhrapradesh/pro-hindu-activists-assault-dalit-professor-accuse-him-of-promoting-christianity-on-svu-tirupati-campus/