Published Jul 23, 2026 | 1:05 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 23, 2026 | 1:13 PM
Mahipal speaking at the Osmania university protest on 23 July
Synopsis: A student leader affiliated with the Disha organisation was picked up by the police and placed in preventive custody ahead of a protest at the Dharna Chowk. Students allege police have been profiling those participating in protests and also accused the force of threatening leaders.
The Osmania University Police on Thursday, 23 July, picked up a student leader and placed him under preventive detention ahead of a protest at Dharna Chowk against the Delhi police’s violent crackdown on the CJP protesters on Monday. Mahipal, affiliated with the Disha Students Organisation, was picked up near the campus at around 10:00 AM.
Mahipal was one of the organisers of a demonstration in the university on Wednesday, in solidarity with the CJP protesters.
The student leader was first taken to the OU police station, then moved to Amberpet. His friends and fellow students were kept in the dark about his whereabouts. Mahipal was later released by the police, owing to public pressure.
Students said that the cops were looking for people who participated in the Wednesday demonstration at the Osmania University campus.
Sreeja, a member of Disha, told South First, “They were also asking around for me specifically. They picked up Mahipal from the campus premises and took him to the OU police station. They said he was under preventive detention because of today’s protest call.”
“They had questioned him about his participation in protests and tried to intimidate him for being vocal about this issue. We cannot understand how police under the Congress government can do this when Rahul Gandhi himself is protesting on this issue,” she said.
The police also reportedly taunted people who went to the PS to request the release of Mahipal. They allegedly called another Disha organiser “dafli wali”, referring to her playing the ‘Dappu’ instrument at the OU demonstration.
Sreeja said, “We had police permission for the protest on campus. We adhered to all the rules. The protest today at Dharna Chowk also has permission from the police. So why are they arresting students?”
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Geetha, another student affiliated with Disha alleged that the police officials threatened her when she went to the station to inquire about Mahipal earlier in the day.
“We tried to appeal to the police by explaining to them that protesting is our right. But they threatened us saying they could do whatever they wanted,” Geetha told South First.
The police reportedly also told the students that they kept tabs on them and their personal information like home addresses.
“It felt very scary considering we are women. What about our privacy?” Asked Geetha.
Earlier the OU police had denied detaining Mahipal.
“We have only detained 7 students from K Kavitha’s TRS party student wing, TRSV. We do not know about Disha students,” a police official told South First.
Students from Osmania University, Disha, and other student organisations have been sharing SOS messages online requesting citizens to reach the OU police station to demand Mahipal’s release.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
