Hyderabad witnessed high drama as police clashed with students of the University of Hyderabad protesting against the Telangana government’s plan to redevelop 400 acres of land near their campus. The confrontation has sparked a political controversy, with the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accusing the police of using excessive force, including dragging students by their hair and thrashing them.
Several students claimed that bulldozers and earthmovers arrived at the site as part of the redevelopment plan, prompting them to stage a demonstration. Many were detained during the protest but were later released. Raising environmental concerns, students opposed the government’s move to auction the land and transform it into an IT park.
The state government defended its plan, stating that the land does not belong to the university and is intended to attract investment. However, students rushed to the site upon seeing the demolition equipment, climbed onto the machines, and chanted slogans like “Go back.” Marching protesters were also heard shouting “Police raj murdabad,” expressing their dissent against police actions.
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This video of students being beaten and dragged by the police is from Telangana.
Hyderabad University students were brutally beaten by the police for protesting against the Congress govt….You won’t see any outrage over it for obvious reasons… pic.twitter.com/RolusdG6xN
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) March 30, 2025
Multiple videos circulating online showed police officers clashing with students and forcibly dragging them into police vans. The BRS, led by former chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, strongly criticized the government’s actions.
“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 stated.
Targeting the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, the BRS added, “This is a market of betrayal and not Mohabbat ki Dukaan (shop of love). 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 police, however, refuted the allegations, stating that only 53 students were taken into preventive custody for obstructing government officials. An official also claimed that some students assaulted the police, adding that legal action would be taken against them.
The university’s students’ union condemned the police response, asserting that their rally was peaceful. They insisted that students have a democratic right to protest and accused the authorities of forceful detentions and mistreatment.
