Tensions flared at the University of Hyderabad yesterday as police clashed with students protesting the Telangana government's plan to redevelop 400 acres of land adjacent to the campus. The incident has sparked a political controversy, with the opposition BRS accusing the police of dragging and beating the protesting students.
Several students, who claimed that bulldozers and earthmovers were brought in as part of the redevelopment project, were detained but later released.
The state government, which intends to establish an IT park on the land next to the university, reportedly issued a proposal to auction the land. A group of students, citing environmental concerns, opposed the plan and organized protests.
The government claimed its goal was to promote investment in the state and that the land had nothing to do with the university. The students said they rushed to the site after noticing bulldozers arriving there - they climbed atop the heavy demolition machines while raising "go back" slogans. A group of marching students were also seen raising "police raj murdabad" slogans.
Multiple videos showed the police clashing with the students and dragging them into police vans.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), led by former chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, said dozens of bulldozers were brought to flatten the land under police protection and the students who opposed were beaten with batons and dragged by their hair.
"Girls were crying that their clothes were torn, but they ignored them and took them to the police station. About 200 people were arrested. On Sunday, when the police officers started work to level 400 acres of land belonging to the university, they showed such harshness on the students who tried to stop them," the opposition party said.
"The Congress' "Mohabbat ki Dukaan" has now reached the Hyderabad Central University. Rahul Gandhi goes around holding a constitution in hand and preaching while his government is doing exactly the opposite," the BRS added.
The police, however, said only 53 students were taken into preventive custody for obstructing government officials from doing their work. An official alleged some of them even assaulted the police. Police cases will be filed against them, he said.
