Published Jul 14, 2026 | 10:37 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 14, 2026 | 10:37 PM
Students activists detained at midnight by police in Nirmal (Credit: Supplied)
Synopsis: Telangana Police detained hundreds of student leaders ahead of the ‘Chalo Secretariat’ protest called by left-wing student organisations over delays in fee reimbursement, scholarships and other issues affecting the education sector. Despite the crackdown, hundreds of students marched to the Secretariat on Tuesday, where police detained more protesters after a scuffle.
The Telangana Police carried out large-scale preventive arrests of student leaders beginning around midnight on Monday, 13 July, and continuing into the early hours of Tuesday, ahead of the ‘Chalo Secretariat’ protest called by left-wing student organisations.
The protest was organised on Tuesday against delays in fee reimbursement and other issues affecting the education sector.
SFI Telangana Secretary T Nagaraju told South First that the police barged into students’ homes late at night and arrested at least 370 people from across the state. He alleged that FIRs were registered under Section 150 of the BNSS.
The ‘Chalo Secretariat’ protest was part of a broader campaign by Telangana’s left-wing student organisations against issues affecting the state’s education system.
Student activists detained in Jangaon
(Credit: Supplied)
SFI, AISF, PDSU, AIFDS, AISB, AIDSO, AIPSU and allied organisations called for a siege of the Secretariat, demanding the immediate release of pending fee reimbursement and scholarship dues.
Student activists accused the Congress government of reneging on the promises it made while in opposition, including assurances of people-centric governance, protection of democratic rights and an end to the pre-emptive detention of activists.
“The government’s conduct after coming to power stands in sharp contrast to these commitments. It amounts to a crackdown on students, youth, and civic organisations,” said SFI State President S Rajnikanth. He also questioned the rationale behind denying students their democratic right to protest peacefully.
In a statement to the press, SFI said governments have a duty to address grievances rather than suppress dissent. The organisation also demanded that the government clarify who had ordered the midnight raids and the arrests of student leaders.
The SFI and allied organisations went ahead with the protest at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Hundreds of students gathered to raise concerns over delays and irregularities in fee reimbursement. Some student leaders who had been placed under preventive detention and later released travelled to Hyderabad to take part in the demonstration.
Police dragging student leaders away from Secretariat
(Credit: Supplied)
Police erected barricades to stop the protesters as they approached the Secretariat, leading to a scuffle. Officers dragged away several students, forcibly detained them and bundled them into police vehicles. Several students sustained minor injuries during the confrontation. Police again detained student activists and took them into custody.
The student organisations warned that any attempt to suppress the student movement through repression would only intensify protests across the state. SFI said its agitation would continue until the pending fee reimbursement and scholarship funds were released. The organisation also demanded the immediate release of all detained student leaders.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
