Clashes broke out at the University of Hyderabad late&nbsp;Sunday as students protested against the Telangana government&rsquo;s plan to redevelop 400 acres of land adjacent to the campus. The demonstration led to police action, with several students being detained before their release later in the day.
The protest has sparked a political controversy, with the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accusing the Congress-led state government of using excessive force against students. &ldquo;Girls were crying that their clothes were torn, but they ignored them and took them to the police station. About 200 people were arrested,&rdquo;&nbsp;the BRS alleged in a statement. The party also claimed that students were beaten with batons and dragged by their hair.
Students said they rushed to the site after noticing bulldozers and climbed atop the machines, shouting &ldquo;Go back&rdquo; slogans. They opposed the project on environmental grounds, expressing concerns over the impact of an IT park that the government plans to develop on the land.
The Telangana government has defended the project, stating that the land is not part of the university and that the redevelopment is intended to promote investment in the state.
In response to the BRS&rsquo;s criticism, the party targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stating, &ldquo;This is a market of betrayal and not &lsquo;Mohabbat ki Dukaan&rsquo;&nbsp;(shop of love).&rdquo;&nbsp;They accused the Congress of hypocrisy, alleging that while Gandhi speaks about democracy and constitutional values, his party&rsquo;s government is acting otherwise.
The police, however, dismissed the allegations of excessive force. &ldquo;Only 53 students were taken into preventive custody for obstructing government officials from carrying out their work,&rdquo;&nbsp;an official said, adding that some protesters allegedly assaulted police personnel. Cases will be filed against them, he stated.
The University of Hyderabad Students&rsquo; Union condemned the police action, asserting that their protest was peaceful. &ldquo;Students have a democratic right to protest,&rdquo;&nbsp;the union said, accusing authorities of &ldquo;manhandling&rdquo; demonstrators and making arbitrary detentions.
The situation remains tense as protests continue, with student groups vowing to escalate their agitation against the proposed redevelopment.

Social media is awash with images of the incident

Students oppose Telangana govt’s IT park plan; BRS alleges police brutality in crackdown

Hyderabad Uni Protests: Students Clash With Police

Students oppose Telangana govt’s IT park plan; BRS alleges police brutality in crackdown

March 31, 2025 | 11:28 IST