SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: April 02, 2025

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):University of Hyderabad

Region & Country:Southern Asia | India

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On April 2, 2025, police used batons to forcibly disperse students and faculty protesting at University of Hyderabad. At least 20 students were injured.

Around 700 students and 200 faculty members had gathered to protest the Telangana government’s plans to develop a 400-acre parcel of undeveloped Kancha Gachibowli forest behind the university. Students and teachers dispute the government’s claim of ownership of the land, arguing that the university owns it.

In anticipation of the protest, a large number of police had been deployed and ordered to barricade the East Campus area, where the clearance work had begun. As students marched toward the area, police used batons against them. Police denied using force; however, videos posted on the social media platform X show officers hitting students with batons and chasing them.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during an on-campus protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/hyderabad-university-protest-20-students-injured-as-police-resort-to-lathi-charge/article69403189.ece#:~:text=Tensions%20escalated%20in%20University%20of,sustained%20injuries%20during%20the%20incident
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hyderabad-university-stir-police-resort-to-lathi-charge-as-students-faculty-protest-over-400-acre-land-auction/articleshow/119898304.cms
https://x.com/thenewsminute/status/1907307584391971233
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/police-lathi-charge-hyderabad-university-students-protest-telangana-govt-400-acre-land-kancha-gachibowli-viral-video-11743585250033.html
https://www.outlooktraveller.com/News/kancha-gachibowli-forest-issue-and-telangana-deforestation