The Telangana government has said that it will take “a sympathetic view” of police cases against the University of Hyderabad students who protested against the clearing of campus land for auction. The government will “work with legal departments for relief,” Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said on Monday, April 7.
The announcement came after a meeting between the state government’s three-member Ministers’ committee constituted to resolve the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli land issue, the University of Hyderabad Teachers’ Association (UHTA), and civil society representatives.
Bhatti Vikramarka, an alumnus of UoH, is part of the three-member committee that also includes another alumnus – Industries and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu – as well as Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.
The key assurances made in the meeting include limiting police presence to the 400 acres of contested land on campus, relief for protesting students against whom FIRs were registered, and a dialogue with students.
Opposing the Revanth Reddy government’s plan to sell the 400 acres of land adjoining the UoH campus to IT companies, students launched a major protest on campus and were met with strong police action.
Two former UoH students who participated in protests, B Rohit Kumar and Erram Naveen, were sent to judicial custody after being arrested under serious charges, including rioting. FIRs were also registered against at least 54 UoH students who were detained for protesting on March 30, as well as students from Osmania University, Satavahana University, Nalgonda University, Telangana University, Palamuru University, and other state universities.
Arguing that the 400 acres is part of ecologically rich and biodiverse land that houses many species of birds, plants, and animals, students have been demanding that the state government carry out a biodiversity study of the area. They have also been demanding that the government withdraw the huge number of police personnel deployed on campus.
“Police presence will be limited to the 400 acres under Supreme Court directive. The government will write to UoH to explore withdrawal from the rest of the campus, based on university assurance,” the Deputy CM said. He also said that a biodiversity survey by faculty or students cannot be permitted until further SC orders.
“The Ministers’ Committee is open to visiting the campus but, in view of the ongoing SC matter, invites students for direct dialogue instead,” Bhatti Vikramarka said.
He also said that the government is “committed to balancing environmental protection, democratic rights, and student welfare while also adhering to Supreme Court directives.”
