Hyderabad college files police complaint after BJP workers barge in over Rohingya admission claims
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The management of Nooria Cooperative Junior College in Hyderabad's Old City has lodged a police complaint against a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and his supporters, accusing them of forcibly entering the premises on Wednesday and threatening staff to produce student admission records. The group allegedly claimed that children of Rohingya Muslims were enrolled at the institution, an allegation the college principal has flatly denied.
What Happened at the College
According to the complaint filed with Santosh Nagar police station, between 30 and 40 workers led by BJP leader Andela Sriramulu Yadav of Maheshwaram entered the college located in the Edi Bazar area. College principal Mohammed Ghaziuddin stated that the group threatened staff and demanded access to student records, creating fear among both staff and students. He has sought police action against those involved.
College's Response to the Allegations
Principal Mohammed Ghaziuddin denied that the college had admitted children of illegal migrants. Lecturer Huzaifa clarified that admissions are conducted strictly in accordance with the Board of Intermediate norms, and that students are enrolled on the basis of valid refugee cards. The college's position is that its admission process follows established regulatory procedures.
What the BJP Leader Alleged
BJP leader Andela Sriramulu Yadav alleged that several children of illegal migrants were studying at the institution. He claimed that upon visiting the college, they found children of 'several foreigners' enrolled there, and that admission records shown to them included Class 10 bona fide certificates and other identity documents for students he described as Rohingya. He demanded that the state government derecognise the college for allegedly admitting children of illegal migrants.
Yadav also alleged that the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) was backing the college's admissions policy. He further questioned whether AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in order to protect illegal migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh — a charge that has not been independently verified.
Broader Context
The incident reflects a pattern of tensions in Hyderabad's Old City around the presence of Rohingya refugees, who fled persecution in Myanmar and have settled in parts of Telangana. The status of Rohingya in India remains legally contested — the Supreme Court has addressed petitions on their detention and deportation, and the Centre has classified them as illegal migrants, while rights groups argue many hold UNHCR refugee documentation. The question of whether refugee card holders may be enrolled in state-affiliated educational institutions under existing norms has not been definitively settled by the Telangana government. This is not the first time BJP workers have staged demonstrations at educational institutions in the city over the Rohingya issue.
What Happens Next
Santosh Nagar police are examining the complaint. No arrests had been reported at the time of publication. The Telangana government has not issued an official statement on the derecognition demand. The episode is likely to intensify political debate in Hyderabad ahead of local body elections, with the BJP, AIMIM, and the ruling dispensation all holding competing stakes in the narrative.