Samim Akter Sheikh
Tensions escalated into violence at the University of Hyderabad on Sunday evening when a group allegedly associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) disrupted a theatre performance at the Department of Theatre Arts’ GB Hall.
The incident occurred during a final-year student staging of Holi, a play by noted playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar. According to witnesses, members of the group objected to certain dialogues in the play, claiming they hurt Hindu religious sentiments. The same group had reportedly issued a warning to the department following a previous performance a day earlier.
Escalation and Alleged Attack
Eyewitness accounts allege that individuals identified as Shiva Palepu (Union President), Ayush Singh (ABVP President), and other members, including Antonie and Sidhant Shukla—who was reportedly suspended twice earlier for disciplinary issues—were involved in the disruption.
The situation escalated when a group caused damage outside an auditorium before forcibly entering the venue.
According to reports, they broke the main light fixture at the theatre hall entrance and damaged window glass panels, along with parts of the infrastructure. A guest faculty member was also allegedly threatened during the incident.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.
