Protest erupts at University of Hyderabad as students, police clash

Students term the March 13 circular to ban protests ‘undemocratic’

Hyderabad: Tensions escalated at University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus on Saturday night when police responded by cracking down on students, who were protesting Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s remarks related to Kancha-Gachibowli.

The students were expressing their anger over Chief Minister’s statement made in the assembly on Wednesday, March 27, when he said that there were no tigers or deer in Kancha Gachibowli and some ‘cunning foxes’ were trying to obstruct development.

A huge scuffle broke-out between police personnel and students on Saturday at UoH campus when police tried to snatch away an effigy the students were trying to burn at the University gate. In the melee, according to reports, several students fainted and some received minor injuries. In the end, despite the presence of police, the students managed to burn the effigy and later condemned police action.

The Students’ union accused Revanth Reddy bankrupting the state and attempting to transfer the university lands to private individuals and raise money to offset the resulting deficit. The students reiterated that the protest would continue until the State government cancels the land auction and registers the lands in the name of the university.

Students’ union president Umesh Ambedkar, secretary Nihad, vice president Akash, assistant secretary Triveni and a large number of students participated in the protest.