The atmosphere at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) Campus in Hyderabad was filled with a spate of tense episodes ahead of a confrontation between two student groups over a rally in solidarity with Palestine on Tuesday.
The EFLU Students’ Union, consisting of the Students Federation of India (SFI), National Students Union of India (NSUI), Fraternity Movement, and Telugu Students’ Federation (TSF), organized the protest, “in solidarity with Palestine on October 7,” said a student union member at EFLU, while talking to FoEJ Media.
“The protest was peaceful with banners and slogans,” she added.
The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) administration has denied permission for a planned “Palestine Solidarity March” that was scheduled to take place at 6 PM on Tuesday. Citing concerns over “national interest.
“The administration denied the permission, but we decided to continue with the march to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine,” a student said.
The protesting students marched around the campus and concluded their march at Sagar Square at around 7:50 pm. After a short while, a group of ABVP consisting of approximately 20 members marched towards Sagar Square with slogans and tore down the banner placed by protestors in solidarity with Palestine, labelling the protest as “an insult to Bharat’s sovereignty.”
Police Allegedly Dragged, Detained, and Assaulted
SFI leaders alleged that ABVP activists used force to disrupt their protest and tore down the banner, resulting in a brief altercation between the two groups.
“They tore the posters pasted by us; they were aggressive, so we too called the students. For a brief while both the groups raised slogans.” student union member told FoEJ Media.
Tensions escalated when members of the ABVP allegedly assaulted a former student wearing a keffiyeh, reportedly beating him severely. Witnesses claimed that police personnel also joined the ABVP activists, dragging the student along the road during the altercation.
“A student wearing a keffiyeh triggered ABVP; they violently trashed him, tearing his keffiyeh. Immediately police also went to the student and dragged him through the road,” student union member said.
SIO condemns Telangana Police action against EFLU Palestine march
The protestors further alleged that the police assaulted the protestors, “threatening them” with a lathi charge, and manhandled them, subsequently detaining nine of them.
The Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India has strongly condemned the Telangana Police for registering non-bailable charges against a student involved in the Palestine Solidarity March. The organization criticized the action as a harsh and unjustified response to a peaceful demonstration, calling it a violation of democratic rights.
“Criminalizing student solidarity with Palestinians reveals rising state intolerance of democratic dissent,” Talha Mannan, National Secretary, SIO, said while talking to FoEJ Media.
