Mild tension at University of Hyderabad as police detain students protesting land clearing

Hyderabad: Mild tension prevailed at the University of Hyderabad campus on March 30, 2025, as police detained several students who were protesting the alleged deployment of earth-moving machines to clear a land parcel on the East Campus. The students were later released.

The protest, organized by the Students' Union and members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), aimed to highlight concerns over the ongoing issue of illegal land encroachment at the university. The demonstrators raised alarms over the environmental impact of clearing forest land and the potential threat to the university's territorial integrity.

Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, a large police contingent, including armed personnel, was deployed in the area. Five JCB vehicles were brought in to clear the land, escalating concerns among students about the encroachment. During the demonstration, police detained over 50 students, including Students' Union General Secretary Nihad Sulaiman, after reportedly using force to disperse the crowd. However, the detained students were later released.

The Students' Union expressed dissatisfaction with the university administration's response to the issue, accusing it of colluding with the police to suppress student voices. "Instead of addressing the land grab issue, the university is enabling unlawful encroachment and using force against peaceful protesters," the Union stated.

The Students' Union has demanded a formal statement from the university regarding the land clearing, and accountability for the police's use of force. As part of the JAC, the Students' Union vowed to continue resisting the land grab through both legal and political means and called on the university community and civil society to join their cause.