Sumit Jha was taken into custody, alongside student protesters, while recording a confrontation between students and police.
Published Mar 30, 2025 | 4:36 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 12, 2025 | 11:34 AM
Sumit Jha (left); A confrontation between Hyderabad Police and student protesters
Synopsis: South First’ journalist, Sumit Jha, was detained by Hyderabad Police on 30 March while covering a student protest at the University of Hyderabad against the clearing of forest land earmarked for auction by the Telangana government. Despite identifying himself as a reporter, Jha was taken Kollur Police Station, alongside students. He has since been released.
South First’s journalist, Sumit Jha, who was detained by Hyderabad Police on Sunday, 30 March, while reporting on a student protest at the University of Hyderabad against the clearing of forest land marked for auction by the Telangana government, has been released.
Sumit Jha was taken into custody, alongside student protesters, while recording a confrontation between students and police.
In a series of video messages sent to the South First newsroom from inside a police van, Jha said a police officer snatched his phone and detained him alongside the protesting students.
Despite clearly identifying himself as a journalist and displaying his Press ID card, Jha was not released, however, his phone was returned to him.
He reported being driven around the university campus in a police van for an extended period before being taken to Kollur Police Station. Jha has since been released.
The students were protesting the clearing of 400 acres of forested land within the university campus, which the Telangana government plans to auction for information technology (IT) and mixed-use development through the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC).
The clearing work began on Sunday, coinciding with Ugadi, the Hindu New Year.
Protesters, including students, faculty members, and environmental activists, have raised serious concerns about the environmental impact of the project.
The area includes forested land, rock formations, lakes, and known wildlife habitats, as well as key university structures such as the School of Economics building and university-constructed helipads.
The Telangana government maintains that the land belongs to the state and that the auction will not affect ecologically sensitive zones.
However, the university administration has disputed the maps issued by the TGIIC, saying no official survey has been conducted.
The “Save City Forest” campaign, which is leading the protest, has called for an immediate halt to the auction and clearing operations.
The group has also demanded a comprehensive biodiversity impact assessment and the declaration of the forested area as a protected zone.
The Telangana High Court is currently hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the matter and has asked the government to respond by 7 April.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Nolan Patrick Pinto)
