Hyderabad police arrest journalist covering 'Save City Forest' protests

Hyderabad Police arrested South First reporter Sumit Jha on March 30 while he was covering student protests at the University of Hyderabad, which were triggered by the Telangana government's removal of campus land.

The Indian Journalists Union (IJU), an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), stated that journalists should be able to work without fear of retaliation and called on authorities to stop arbitrarily detaining reporters who are covering issues in the public interest.

While documenting a clash between students and police on March 30, Jha was arrested alongside protesters at the University of Hyderabad.

Video footage from inside a police van shows Jha claiming a police officer grabbed his phone before he was arrested.

Jha was driven around the campus for an extended period before being taken to Kollur Police Station and released shortly after, despite presenting his press card and identifying himself as a journalist.

The Telangana government's plan to auction the property for mixed-use development through the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) sparked the "Save City Forest" protests. Bulldozers arrived on the university's East Campus to clear 400 acres of forest land.

During the disturbance, police arrested over 50 individuals as student protesters tried to stop the machines and called for an immediate halt to the clearance.

Many students, teachers, and environmental activists have raised concerns about the project’s ecological impact, including the loss of lakes, wildlife habitats, and rock formations.

The university has called for a thorough biodiversity assessment and stated that the administration was not notified about the "demarcation of land."

A public interest lawsuit has been filed in the Telangana High Court, calling for a response from the government regarding the issue.

The Indian Journalists Union condemned the arrest of journalist Sumit Jha. The IJU urged the Telangana government to respect press freedom and allow journalists to cover the news.

"The unlawful detention of journalist Sumit Jha is a transparent attempt to silence critical voices reporting in the public interest. The IFJ calls on authorities to protect the rights of press workers, ensuring that journalists can carry out their duties without fear of retaliation or retribution," the IFJ said.