Hyderabad: Several students were detained by Osmania University Police on Wednesday, September 30, during a protest against a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) talk session at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad. The students were released later in the evening.
The event was attended by Lingam Sridhar, a member of the Telangana RSS. The protesting students questioned the university administration over allowing an RSS representative to address students under the banner of the Bhagath Singh Youth Club.
According to the protesting students, the club was being used as a proxy platform for the RSS. They also questioned what they described as differing approaches to granting permission for events involving academicians, human rights activists and student leaders.
In a statement, the students alleged that the administration was facilitating RSS programmes while denying permission to other groups and speakers. These claims were made by the protesting students and have not been independently established.
Those detained included EFLU Students' Union president Harshad Shibin, general secretary Irfan Shajudheen, joint secretary Haleemathu Saadiya, sports secretary Udita and councillors Suaadha Sudheer and Ashmit.
Other student leaders, including Sreeja, Maryam Nasiha, Noura Hanan, Rasal and Yasir, were also among those detained, according to the students.
Attempts to obtain a response from Osmania University Police regarding the detentions and the circumstances surrounding the protest were unsuccessful.
