Hyderabad: Tension briefly flared near Osmania University on Thursday after the Disha Students Organisation (DSO) alleged student activist Mahipal was picked up by the Osmania University police around 10 am and questioned for nearly two hours before being released.DSO leaders claimed B Mahipal was targeted for participating in a student protest on the campus on Wednesday, which police said was held without prior permission.“The questions were not about any offence. They kept asking why we were actively participating in protests and mobilising students. How can protesting be illegal? Since when does protesting in a university require prior permission?” DSO member D Sreeja told TOI.The organisation alleged that Mahipal was singled out for amplifying calls for protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities. Activists also questioned what they termed a contradiction in the Congress govt’s stand.“Rahul Gandhi joined the Jantar Mantar protest in Delhi, but here in Telangana, student activists are being picked up for participating in protests. We are only consistently raising the issue,” a DSO member, requesting anonymity, said.The organisation claimed Mahipal was released after students and activists mounted pressure by contacting the police station.Police, however, denied detaining him. “We came across a social media post carrying Mahipal’s contact number on a protest poster. Permission had been taken only for the Dharna Chowk protest, while this appeared to be a different programme. We only called him for questioning. It was not preventive custody, and no FIR has been registered. After questioning him and learning he had an exam, we allowed him to leave immediately,” Rakshitha Krishnamurthy, Secunderabad zone DCP, told TOI.
