Watch: UoH students celebrate first victory against Telangana govt

Despite heavy rain on Thursday that lashed the city, the energy among students was palpable as they gathered outside the University main gate, sang songs against the State government and celebrated their first victory

Hyderabad: Days after vehement protests that triggered police lathi charge, the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus erupted in jubilant celebrations as the Supreme Court on Thursday halted all sorts of developmental activities in Kancha Gachibowli.

Despite heavy rain on Thursday that lashed the city, the energy among students was palpable as they gathered outside the University main gate, sang songs against the State government and celebrated their first victory.

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The State government, as part of the pre-auctioning process of 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, abutting the University of Hyderabad campus, had commenced deforesting the land. Within two to three days, nearly 100 acres of land was deforested and leveled.

Earlier in the day, around 20 students, including UoH Students union general secretary Nihad Sulaiman, embarked on a relay hunger strike at the university north gate. They demanded immediate cessation of forest destruction and removal of bulldozers from the university campus.

They also demanded withdrawal of the large contingent of police personnel deployed at the university east campus. Despite the High Court order on Wednesday directing the State government to stop the works in Kancha Gachibowli for a day, students claimed that works continued throughout Wednesday night and on Thursday morning