Hyderabad witnessed a tense standoff on Sunday as several students from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) were detained by the Cyberabad police for protesting against the clearing of land at Kancha Gachibowli. The Telangana government has earmarked the 400-acre land parcel for auction to facilitate multi-infrastructure and IT park development. The students, however, argue that the move threatens the biodiversity and ecosystem of the university surroundings.
Heavy Deployment, Earth Movers Used Amid Protests
According to student accounts, as many as eight earth movers were deployed at the site under a heavy police presence on Sunday afternoon. As soon as news of the land clearing spread, scores of students gathered at the East Campus, chanting slogans against the state government’s decision. Their demonstration was met with immediate police intervention, leading to multiple detentions.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty confirmed that nearly 50 students were taken into preventive custody. “They were detained for obstructing Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) authorities from carrying out their work. Some students also assaulted police personnel, and we are assessing the circumstances to register cases against them,” Mohanty told Indian Express.
Telangana Government Calls Protests Politically Motivated
Kancha Gachibowli, located in Hyderabad’s IT corridor, has been a contentious issue for months. Speaking in the Telangana Assembly, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy dismissed the protests, calling them politically motivated. He claimed, “There are no tigers or deer in that area, but some cunning ‘foxes’ are trying to obstruct development.” Reddy also alleged that the Opposition was inciting student protests and filing Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to stall the project.
Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu further clarified that the land does not belong to the university and is solely owned by the state government, thereby justifying the proposed auction.
Students Allege Police Brutality, Lockdown of University Gates
Despite government statements, students insist that the police used force to suppress their peaceful demonstration. Protesters claim that police personnel manhandled and shoved them into vans before transporting them to undisclosed locations. “At least 100 protesters have been taken away. We were peacefully protesting inside our campus when the police used brute force, including against female students,” a student alleged.
Those detained were later taken to the Raidurg and Madhapur police stations. In response, the remaining students gathered near the university’s main gate to continue their protest. Reports also indicate that the police locked the main entrance from the outside, restricting media access and movement.
Legal Battle Over Land Ownership Intensifies
Student union vice-president Akash Kumar, representing the Ambedkar Students’ Association, criticized the government’s actions, stating that no official survey had been conducted to demarcate the land. “Even though the Telangana government claims ownership of the land, we are legally contesting this. The government has not waited for the next PIL hearing on April 7, which seeks to declare Kancha Gachibowli a national park. Instead, they brought in bulldozers, barricaded roads inside the university, and used police force against us,” he said.
Growing Backlash and Calls for Action
The protests have sparked widespread condemnation from student bodies and environmental activists. Many argue that the lack of transparency in the government’s decision-making process and the alleged excessive police action warrant a thorough investigation. Student groups have vowed to continue their agitation until their concerns are addressed.
As the legal battle and student protests escalate, all eyes are now on the upcoming PIL hearing on April 7, which could shape the future of Kancha Gachibowli’s land use.
