Tensions escalated at the University of Hyderabad on Sunday as police clashed with students protesting the Telangana government’s plan to redevelop 400 acres of land adjacent to the campus. The situation quickly turned confrontational, resulting in a political uproar with the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accusing law enforcement of using excessive force, including dragging students by their hair.

Students, who alleged bulldozers and earthmovers had been deployed for the redevelopment project, gathered to oppose the initiative. Although several demonstrators were taken into custody, they were later released.

The state government’s redevelopment plan aims to establish an IT park on the land bordering the university. Reports indicate the government issued a proposal to auction this land, prompting environmental concerns among students who argue that the proposal threatens both ecological balance and their academic environment.

In response, student protesters rallied at the site after witnessing the arrival of heavy machinery, voicing their opposition with slogans including “go back.” A separate group of marching students was heard chanting “police raj murdabad”.

Footage on social media depicted scenes of police confronting students and forcibly detaining them. The BRS, led by former CM K. Chandrashekhar Rao, claimed numerous bulldozers were brought to the site under police protection to clear the land. The party reported that students opposing the plan faced violent treatment, with allegations of physical assaults against them.

“Girls were left in tears after their clothes were torn during the clash, with authorities disregarding their distress as they were taken to the police station,” the BRS stated, citing that around 200 individuals had been arrested during the upheaval. They criticized the police for their actions, condemning the violent nature of the response to peaceful protests. The party further accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy, likening their political promises to a “market of betrayal,” contrasting with their prior campaign rhetoric.

In defence, Hyderabad Police reported that they had taken 53 students into preventive custody for obstructing government officials. Officials claimed that some students had even assaulted police officers during the protests, indicating that charges would be filed against them.

The university student union condemned the police crackdown, asserting that they had engaged in a peaceful demonstration and held the right to protest democratically. They accused law enforcement of forceful detentions and mishandling.

Responding to these events, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy denied the students’ assertions of wrongful treatment, suggesting they were incited to protest. He reiterated that the land in question is part of the city’s IT hub and has been under government ownership since 1974, thus having no ties to the university.

In a charged political atmosphere ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing a public rally in Gopalganj on Sunday, launched a scathing attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, accusing him of plunging the state into chaos during his tenure from 1990 to 2005.

Shah, who arrived in Patna on Saturday, also held a meeting with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders at the Chief Minister’s residence.

Speaking to a large crowd, Shah alleged that the Lalu-Rabri regime was synonymous with “jungle raj,” marked by lawlessness, murders, abductions, and the infamous fodder scam.

“Lalu Prasad did nothing for Bihar’s rural economy or development. Several sugar mills shut down, and the state suffered under his misrule,” Shah claimed, asserting that people reject the return of such disorder. He predicted a landslide victory for the NDA in the upcoming elections.

The Home Minister contrasted this with the BJP-led NDA’s efforts, claiming that while the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre allocated only ₹2.80 lakh crore to Bihar, the NDA provided ₹9.23 lakh crore, focusing on the state’s overall growth.

RJD leaders hit back fiercely. Shakti Singh Yadav, an RJD leader, accused Shah of hypocrisy, labelling him the “hero of Gujarat’s jungle raj and atank raj.” He pointed to the alleged deterioration in law and order under the BJP-JD(U) government in Bihar over the past two decades, citing rising crime rates.

Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, dismissed Shah’s claims, questioning the tangible benefits of the alleged financial aid. “Big promises are made during elections, but they vanish post-polls. If Modi has given money, specify the sectors and show the work done in 20 years,” he challenged.

RJD MP Misa Bharti defended Lalu Prasad, highlighting his contributions as Railway Minister, including setting up three factories and establishing six universities in Bihar during his and Rabri Devi’s tenure.

The verbal duel escalated as Shah accused RJD supremo Prasad of involvement in multiple scams, including the fodder, bitumen, and flood relief material scams, alleging that those who “ate up fodder” could not prioritize public welfare.

The fodder scam, exposed in the 1990s when Jharkhand was part of Bihar, saw crores fraudulently withdrawn from state treasuries, with Lalu Prasad among those convicted.

In Ballia, police have arrested two individuals in connection with the suspicious death of a young woman whose body was discovered hanging from a tree with her hands restrained. The incident has been classified as a potential suicide, but the victim’s family is adamant that she was murdered and is advocating for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.

The deceased, identified as Pooja, aged 20, was found in the Sarya Gulab Rai village within the jurisdiction of the Nagara police station on March 23. Police reports suggest that Pooja took her own life after her boyfriend blocked her number, as she was set to marry another man on April 25. Authorities claim she was distressed and had viewed a YouTube video about suicide prior to her death.

On Saturday, two men, Lalu Chauhan from Pooja’s village and Ram Dulare from Mau district, were taken into custody for their alleged roles in abetting her suicide and have since been remanded in jail. Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh indicated that Pooja had reached out to these individuals regarding her distress, but they failed to inform her family or the police of her situation.

The police investigation, based on a post-mortem report and other evidence, has led them to conclude that the case is leaning towards suicide. However, the family has lodged a complaint against four villagers, questioning the circumstances of Pooja’s death and alleging murder.

The formal autopsy was recorded on video and conducted by a panel of medical professionals, revealing no external injuries that would suggest foul play. Despite this, the family remains skeptical. Pooja’s sister, Neha, voiced her concerns in front of reporters, asserting that the police narrative is misleading and that the claim about watching a suicide video is unfounded given the restrictions on such content.

Neha is calling for a CBI investigation, citing a lack of trust in local law enforcement. Pooja’s father, Dharamraj, who himself works as a security guard at a police station, questioned how a suicide could occur under such bizarre circumstances, notably with the victim’s hands and feet tied.

The investigation continues, with officials stating that the evidence collected thus far does not strongly implicate the individuals named in the initial complaint, although they are pursuing all avenues in this complex case.