Police detains HCU, TISS students protesting against CAA

Hyderabad: Telangana police has detained several students from University of Hyderabad and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), who were planning to attend the CAA protests organized in Nampally at 10.30 in the morning on December 19.

Around 80 students from HCU were detained by Telangana police and taken to Moinabad police station. According to HCU Students’ Union, they had mobilized many students in order to take part in the All India protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC from Exhibition Ground at Nampally. However, police had denied permission for the protests.

Police takes over bus taking HCU students

While the students were on their way to the protest, the police had taken control of the bus and diverted it to Moinabad police station, where they have been detained. As of now, students are protesting against the police action in front of Moinabad police station.

Irfan Habib, one of the students who has been detained said, “The police had gathered outside the university’s main gate from morning itself. As the bus moved outside, the police officers had gotten in and diverted the bus to Moinabad. As of now, we don’t have any information on when we will be released.”

Students from TISS, Hyderabad were also detained while they were on the way to join the protest. "The TISS students have been taken to Narayanguda, Ramgopalpet and Saifabad police station," said Bhagyasree, President of TISS Students' Union.

No permission for protests: Police

“The students from HCU have been detained by Gachibowli police as a preventive measure. They were planning to attend the protest against CAA and NRC. They will be released in the evening,” said an officer from Moinabad police station.

As protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill are raging across the country, a protest rally was called by different organizations from Charminar to the Exhibition ground at 10.30 am on December 19. However, authorities have specified that no permission had been given for the protest. Considering the representation submitted by parties seeking permission for the protest, P. Viswaprasad IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Central Zone has released a statement which said, “All are requested to note that no permission has been given to any group or association or organization in Hyderabad for taking out Outdoor Rally/Procession today either against or in support of CAA.” The police had also asked people “not to believe in any messages circulating on social media or other mediums which are calling for such programs.”

Update: The detained students were later released at 3 pm.