On March 30, 2025, several students from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) were detained by Cyberabad police while protesting the Telangana government’s plan to auction 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli for infrastructure and IT park development. The students opposed the land clearing, citing concerns over the area’s biodiversity and ecological balance.
The protest intensified when approximately eight earth movers began clearing the land under heavy police presence. Students gathered at the site, chanting slogans against the government’s actions. Reports indicate that the number of excavators increased to 40 overnight to expedite the clearing process.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty stated that around 50 students were taken into preventive custody for causing disturbances and obstructing Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) authorities. He mentioned that some students assaulted police officers, and cases might be registered against them based on the circumstances.
The Telangana government maintains that the land in question belongs to the state and not the university. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy alleged that the protests are politically motivated and claimed that the opposition is inciting student demonstrations and filing Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to stall the project.
In response to the detentions, students continued their protests, demanding the release of their peers and a halt to the land auction. They expressed concerns about the health of detained students and criticized the university administration’s silence on the issue.
The situation has also drawn political attention. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) criticized the Congress-led state government for the police action, invoking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Mohabbat ki Dukaan” slogan and accusing the government of suppressing democratic norms.
Despite the ongoing protests, land clearing activities in Kancha Gachibowli have continued, with an increased number of excavators working overnight to expedite the process. citeturn0search2
The UoH students’ union has condemned the university administration’s inaction and continues to seek a response regarding the preservation of the area’s biodiversity.
This development highlights the escalating tensions between environmental concerns, student activism, and governmental development plans in Hyderabad.
