Tension prevailed in the vicinity of GITAM (Deemed to be University) in Rushikonda, Vizag, in the early hours of today, as police battalions and revenue department officials arrived to lay a fence around the university's dental college on the main campus. This move has come amid allegations of illegal encroachment on government-owned land by the institute, with the city authorities previously demolishing the main gate and carrying out a similar raid in January.

The high-security blanket enforced by city police officials caused inconvenience to commuters, as they were restricted from entering the institution from Sagar Nagar and the Yendada highway. Barricades were erected over a kilometer ahead of the campus, making it difficult for residents of apartments and communities surrounding GITAM and Rushikonda to move in and out of the locality. The public was asked to produce identity proofs to pass the security line, with only those with valid proof of being a resident allowed to cross.

Authorities have imposed restrictions on all roads leading to GITAM University since 2 a.m. today, with police personnel deployed to the area to prevent any untoward incidents. The dental college located on the main campus of the university has already had a one-kilometer-long fence erected. The police entered the university campus carrying the necessary materials for the fence's construction, leading to an escalation in the already tense situation.

The controversy surrounding GITAM University's alleged illegal encroachment on government-owned land has been ongoing for some time now. The institute has faced multiple allegations of encroaching on land adjacent to its college, leading to the state government's intervention. In January of this year, the city authorities demolished the main gate and carried out a similar raid on the state government's directives.

It remains to be seen how the situation at GITAM University will develop in the coming days. While authorities claim that the fence's construction is necessary to protect government land, students and faculty at the university are worried about the impact it may have on the institution's functioning. The controversy surrounding the university's land acquisition and construction activities is likely to continue, with stakeholders keeping a close watch on developments.