A peaceful Palestine solidarity march organised by the EFLU Students' Union at Sagar Square in Hyderabad on Tuesday evening ended in violence following an aggressive escalation by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
After the demonstration had dispersed, ABVP members gathered at the site, raising provocative slogans and vandalising protest materials by tearing down Palestinian flags and posters. This act of vandalism drew students from various groups, resulting in a tense standoff, during which ABVP members reportedly began physically assaulting opposing students.
When the police arrived, students alleged that the authorities sided with the ABVP, ignoring the initial acts of vandalism and assault. Police reportedly ordered the removal of all Palestinian protest materials, effectively siding against the demonstrators. Backed by the police, ABVP members forcibly dragged a student wearing a keffiyeh, who was subsequently detained.
“A male police officer began pushing us aggressively and even took out his pistol, pressing it against our abdomen,” recounted a female PhD scholar who was present during the incident.
A member of the student union described the distressing treatment of female students: “We repeatedly asked the male officers not to touch female students. There were only two female officers at the site, yet it was male officers who came at us, grabbing our shoulders and pushing us by our chests.”
As tensions escalated, the student collective marched towards the main gate to protest the police’s alleged bias. The situation deteriorated further, with police officers accused of using excessive force and manhandling female student leaders, including the Union Vice President and Joint Secretary. Students also alleged the use of derogatory language and threats of FIRs. Disturbingly, one officer was seen taking out and brandishing a firearm in an attempt to disperse the students.
Following the clash, police forces were deployed across the campus, effectively imposing a curfew by herding students back to their hostels. Students report ongoing intimidation, with police allegedly singling out individuals and threatening them with legal action. This aggressive response has left the student body gripped by fear and a growing sense of targeted repression for exercising their right to protest.
During the confrontation, members of the ABVP, which is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), were reportedly heard chanting abusive slogans such as “Jhute maaro saalon ko” and “Beat those scoundrels with shoes!”
A male student, who has been repeatedly targeted by the police, shared his experience: “The police were selectively attacking students from other organisations. We were dragged and forcefully pushed to the ground multiple times. A senior officer pointed directly at three students who tried speaking to him and threatened to file cases against us. We've since been informed that an FIR has indeed been filed.”
Sources said that a case has been registered against student union office bearers, including President Porika Vikas, General Secretary Deena Elsa,Vice President Ardra, Joint Secretary Noora Maisoon, and Fraternity Movement National Secretary Shaheen CP. The case has been registered under Sections 132, 196, 221 r/w 190 of the BNS.
Meanwhile, ABVP alleged that the protest was an "insult to the sovereignity" of the nation.
"This act is an insult to Bharat’s sovereignty and a blatant misuse of a Central University’s space, funded by the taxpayers of India. ABVP EFLU Unit took immediate action to remove the Palestinian flag and ensured that our protest remained peaceful and disciplined. Our actions stem from nationalistic conviction; we will not allow our university to become a platform for foreign political agendas or propaganda," claimed Sumit Patel, president of ABVP EFLU unit.
Echoing similar sentiments, the EFL University Administration had earlier denied permission for the Palestine solidarity march alleging that it was "against national interests." The administration had also objected to displaying Palestinian flags and banners with the slogan "EFLU is with Palestine" on the campus. The administration stated that an inquiry will be conducted into the incident, and action will be taken in accordance with the university's ordinances and regulations.
Protests have erupted across the globe against Israel's ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, which has so far killed at least 67,183 Palestinians, more than half of them being women and children. At least 460 Palestinians have died due to starvation induced by Israel's continuous blockade of aid into Gaza. Over 220 journalists and at least 1500 healthcare workers and aid workers have also been killed, mostly in targeted attacks by Israel since October 2023.
Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), while the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
