Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police denied using lathis to control the students at the University of Hyderabad amid a protest march on April 2.
In videos that surfaced from the teachers’ march against the deforestation at the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli land, the police officials are seen using force as the agitation escalates.
The police claimed that personnel at the University of Hyderabad did not lathicharge students but used “bare minimum force” on those who pushed officials holding the rope.
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The protest march was organised by teachers at the UoH amid the ongoing dispute over the proposed auction of the 400-acre land in Kancha Gachibowli. Protesters say that the government’s plan to auction the land will adversely impact the environment in the vicinity of the university.
The protests have intensified over the past three weeks since the Telangana government on March 3, announced it would auction the Kancha Gachibowli land.
Legal issue
In 2004, the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government allotted 400 acres to IMG Academies Bharata Pvt Ltd on January 13, 2004, in Survey Number 25 of Kancha Gachibowli Village for the development of sports facilities.
According to a report by The Hindu, as the project of the IMG Academies Bharata Pvt Ltd did not take off, the then Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) revoked the allotment on November 21, 2006, which was challenged in the A.P. High Court. The new government pursued the matter vigorously, and the High Court passed orders in favour of the government on March 7, 2024.
Telangana govt secures land
Following the High Court order, the IMG Academies Bharata Pvt Ltd filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court of India. The government again contested the matter, and the SLP was dismissed by the Supreme Court of India on May 3, 2024. Thus, the government was able to secure the land.
The ownership of the land was also confirmed by the Deputy Collector and Tahsildar, Serilingampally Mandal who confirmed that as per Revenue records the land in Survey Number 25 of Kancha Gachibowli Village was recorded as “Kancha Asthabal Poramboke Sarkari”, which is government land and an extent of 400 acres was free from encroachments and under the possession of government for further development.
Land handed over to TGIIC
Following the acquisition of the land, the Telangana government handed it over to TGIIC in July 2024 for setting up the Information Technology (IT) and mixed-use project. The land was handed over to TGIIC on July 1, 2024, duly conducting the panchanama.
