March 31, 2025: Tensions flared at the University of Hyderabad after police detained a journalist covering student protests against the clearing of forest land on campus and the auctioning of a 400-acre land parcel nearby. The incident has sparked a political row, with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accusing the Congress-led Telangana government of suppressing dissent and press freedom.

The protest erupted after bulldozers arrived on the university’s East Campus to clear land, prompting students to block the machines, raise slogans, and demand an immediate halt to the process. Over 50 students were detained but later released. The police also took journalist Sumit into custody while he was reporting on the student agitation, leading to widespread condemnation.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) lashed out at the Congress government, calling the police action an attack on democracy.

"The draconian police overreach in Telangana is alarming. Journalists are being detained, and dissenting voices arrested. This blatant suppression of free speech and expression is unacceptable," KTR posted on X (formerly Twitter).

He also criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of hypocrisy for advocating democracy while his party’s government allegedly cracks down on free speech.

BRS spokesperson Krishank and MLA Kalvakuntla Sanjay echoed the criticism, accusing the government of targeting journalists and opposition leaders instead of addressing governance failures like the recent question paper leak. Sanjay termed the Congress-led administration a “Dushman ki Dukaan” (Shop of the Enemy).

The Telangana government has defended its decision to auction the land at Kancha Gachibowli, stating that the planned IT park will boost economic growth. However, students and faculty members argue that the project threatens the area’s ecological balance and encroaches on university land.

The University of Hyderabad Students' Union (UoHSU) condemned the use of force against students and the detention of a journalist. Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising student unions and faculty members, has called for legal action against the land auction and demanded that the university administration take a clear stand on the issue.

As protests continue, pressure is mounting on the Telangana government to justify its actions and address growing concerns over press freedom and environmental conservation.