Police say no to Telangana march, to act tough

With pro-Telangana groups going ahead with their planned Sep 30 march, Andhra Pradesh's police chief Friday warned that the police force would act tough to maintain law and order.

Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy, who is holding charge at present pending verdict of the Central Administrative Tribunal, told reporters in Hyderabad that there was no question of giving permission for the march as there were strong apprehensions about it turning violent.
The police chief asked Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) to postpone the march in view of the Ganesh immersion processions Sep 29 and the United Nations conference on biodiversity beginning Oct 1.
On a day when the JAC steering committee was busy giving final touches to the proposed march around Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city, the DGP said anti-social elements in the guise of protestors could sneak in to create trouble.
He said the police would deploy their videographers at various points in the city to videograph all those coming to participate in the march. "If any untoward incident takes place, the organisers would be responsible," he said.
JAC convenor M. Kodandaram had Thursday said if the government failed to give permission for the march, it would be responsible for any consequences.
He wondered how JAC leaders could give an assurance of a peaceful protest if the police accord permission for the march.
Dinesh Reddy said police had made elaborate security arrangements for the Ganesh immersion processions, which will begin Sep 29 and will continue till morning the next day.
The JAC has called for the march to press its demand for separate statehood to Telangana region.