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 a tragic incident on Sunday, at least one passenger lost their life, and eight others sustained injuries when 11 coaches of the Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Superfast Express derailed near Nergundi station in Odisha’s Cuttack district.

The accident occurred around 11:54 AM in the Cuttack-Nergundi Railway Section under the Khurda Road Division of East Coast Railway, as per the reports.

Subash Chandra Ray, the Administrative Officer of SCB Medical College and Hospital, confirmed that “one body has been recovered, and three teams of doctors have been engaged to treat the injured passengers”. The identity of the deceased remains unknown.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his concern on the social media platform X, stating, “Deeply concerned about the derailment of Kamakhya Express near Nergundi station in #Cuttack. Grateful that all passengers are safe. Authorities are on-site, ensuring assistance and restoring normalcy at the earliest. Helplines activated for support.”

In response to the crisis, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and fire services were promptly mobilized, and a relief train was dispatched to the site, as per Ashok Kumar Mishra’s statement to India Today.

Railway authorities, including the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Khurda Road, the General Manager of ECoR, and other senior officials, rushed to the location. An accident relief and medical relief train were also sent to the spot, according to PTI.

Due to the derailment, several train routes have been diverted, and ECoR officials are making alternate arrangements to ensure passengers reach their destinations, after which restoration works will commence, reported by media. The Railways have issued helpline numbers for assistance: 8455885999 and 8991124238.

The cause of the derailment is currently under investigation, and railway authorities are working tirelessly to restore normalcy on the affected track section, as per the reports.