Clash Over Theatre Play Leaves Students Injured at UoH, Rival Groups Trade Charges
SFI, ABVP trade blame over violence during campus play ‘Holi’
Hyderabad: A clash during a theatre performance at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has left some students injured, with rival groups giving sharply different accounts of what led to the violence.
According to the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) HCU unit, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) disrupted a play titled ‘Holi’, staged as part of the academic evaluation of theatre arts students at the GB Hall on Monday. SFI alleged that ABVP members had earlier objected to the play on May 3, calling it offensive, and warning that it would not be allowed the next day.
SFI claimed that on Monday night, ABVP members entered the venue and “unleashed violence by throwing beer bottles, stones and wooden sticks,” damaging window panes and injuring several students. “Two SFI unit committee members sustained severe injuries, had stitches and underwent multiple scans,” the organisation said. It also alleged that elected student union members were present and led the attack, and that slogans such as “Goli Maro Saalon Ko” were raised while students and faculty were threatened.
The group said the play was part of the academic curriculum and questioned whether students needed prior permission to conduct such activities. It accused police and security personnel of remaining silent during the incident.
On the other hand, ABVP-HCU denied the allegations and said some students attending the play felt that it hurt Hindu sentiments. ABVP claimed that when objections were raised, SFI members reacted violently. It said its activists were assaulted while staging a protest and that some had to be hospitalised.
The incident has triggered a wider confrontation on campus, with SFI calling it an attack on academic freedom and campus democracy, while ABVP maintained that it acted in response to offensive content. Student groups including SFi & ASA have called for a relay hunger strike until action is taken on the matter.
University authorities have not yet issued a detailed statement on the incident or the injuries reported.
