UoH students celebrate as SC intervenes in Kancha Gachibowli, over 80 protestors detained

University of Hyderabad students celebrate as Supreme Court intervenes in tree felling issue, leading to arrests and ongoing protests.

After four days of intense protests, students of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) erupted in celebration on Thursday (April 3) as the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the tree felling in Kancha Gachibowli.

The protests were sparked by the government’s decision to auction 400 acres of land in the area, a move that students and environmental activists opposed. “This is a moment of triumph for students who have been relentlessly fighting to protect this land,” said Nishanth Reddy, a PhD student. However, he added that their fight was far from over, as they now plan to demand the resignation of the Vice Chancellor and Registrar, accusing them of failing to safeguard the university’s land and disregarding student concerns.

On Thursday, over 80 individuals, including students and members of student unions, were put under preventive arrest by the Cyberabad police. The police said that the students were detained for trespassing into the 400-acre land and the East Campus without valid identity proof, while others were taken into custody for protesting and  inciting the students at the university’s main gate. These individuals were later let off.

Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty maintained that the police had exercised restraint, refraining from filing cases or making arrests, keeping in mind the future and career prospects of students. “We will implement the Supreme Court’s directives in full spirit. Students with valid ID proofs and legitimate reasons will be permitted to enter the East Campus for classes, while others attempting unauthorised entry will be detained in the interest of maintaining law and order,” he stated.

The East Campus houses three key academic buildings, including the School of Economics, School of Management Studies, and the School of Mathematics and Statistics.

Meanwhile, Madhapur DCP Vineeth G. refuted claims of a lathi charge on April 2, asserting that the police only used minimal force. “A few persons in the group of protesting students pushed away both men and women police personnel on duty and tried to snatch away the holding rope. Bare minimum force had to be used to get back the rope and to send away the persons,” read an official statement from the police.