Hyderabad: Nine students booked after scuffle during pro-Palestine protests at EFL university

The Telangana Police has registered a first information report against nine students from the English and Foreign Languages University in Hyderabad after a scuffle during a pro-Palestine protest on campus on Tuesday, The Indian Express reported.

Among those booked are six students linked to the students’ union of the university and three from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The RSS is the parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The clashes had erupted during a protest organised by the students’ union, comprising the Students Federation of India, the National Students Union of India, the Fraternity Movement and the Telugu Students’ Federation, against the war on Gaza, The News Minute reported.

While the Students’ Federation of India is affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the National Students Union of India is the student wing of Congress.

After the scuffle, the students’ union stated that a “peaceful” pro-Palestine march had been organised at Sagar Square on the university campus on Tuesday evening.

“After the demonstration dispersed, members of the ABVP gathered there, raising slogans and tearing down the remaining Palestine flag and posters,” the statement alleged. “The vandalism drew students from all groups, leading to a standoff where ABVP members began manhandling opposing students.”

The students’ union further accused the police...

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