October 18, 2025, brought a wave of unrest to parts of Hyderabad when groups of protesters escalated a Telangana-wide bandh into acts of vandalism. Their objective: to garner support for a 42% reservation quota in local body elections and exert pressure on both the Telangana and central governments. The demonstrations led to damage across shops, petrol stations, restaurants, and various other commercial establishments.
The morning’s escalation began around 9:30 a.m. in Barkatpura. Here, a group of BC leaders targeted an HP petrol pump, shattering its glass panels and damaging display units. Their destructive path continued to a Bajaj Electronics showroom in Nallakunta and a nearby tiffin center, where stones were pelted, forcing these businesses to close for several hours.
Kachiguda Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Y. Harish Kumar reported on the sequence of events: “They initiated their actions at the Bajaj showroom in Nallakunta, proceeded to the Raghavendra Tiffin Centre, and subsequently attacked the HP petrol pump, situated approximately 100 to 200 meters away.”
The protesters, who were part of a bike rally, actively forced traders to shut their shops along the Habsiguda–Tarnaka stretch, leading to temporary but noticeable disruptions in both traffic flow and business operations.
Despite the recorded damages, no official complaints were filed with either the Nallakunta or Kachiguda police. Authorities confirmed that normalcy returned by noon, with commercial activities largely resuming across the affected areas.
Police officials noted that the management of the Bajaj showroom communicated that they were not aware of the bandh and, consequently, chose not to file a formal complaint.