Auctioning of HCU Land and Brutal Police Crackdown on Protesting Students

The All-India Students Association (AISA) has strongly condemned the Congress-led Telangana government's decision to auction 400 acres of land belonging to the University of Hyderabad (HCU). This land, home to the iconic Mushroom Rocks, is part of the east campus of the university and is rich in biodiversity, making it an essential part of Hyderabad’s ecosystem.

Students from the University of Hyderabad took to the streets in protest on 30 March, demanding that the government halt its plans. However, instead of engaging in dialogue, the state responded with brutal force. Police were ordered to assault the students, resulting in multiple physical assaults and the detention of over 20 protestors. In a disturbing display of state power, many students were subjected to violent manhandling, their clothes ripped, and their bodies bruised.

In a statement issued, AISA condemned the Telangana government's action as part of a broader pattern of prioritising corporate interests over environmental preservation. The auctioning of this prime land under the guise of ‘planned development’ is seen as a reckless move that compromises both the environment and the educational space at HCU. The sale threatens to displace vital green spaces that play a crucial role in maintaining the region's biodiversity.

The Telangana government's actions, including the illegal demolition of parts of HCU's land by JCBs, have been condemned as a direct violation of legal processes. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the auction was already pending in court, making the demolition efforts not only unethical but also illegal.

AISA noted that the struggle is not merely a campus issue but part of a larger movement to safeguard the environment from corporate exploitation and an exploitative model of development that places profits above people and nature.