Hyderabad tense as Telangana supporters gather for march

Tension gripped Hyderabad today as pro-Telangana activists clashed with police and incidents of violence were reported from different places, even as a large number of supporters headed for the venue to participate in the 'Telangana March' for a separate state.

The march, to be held on Necklace Road at the Hussain Sagar lake, has been called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) in support of demand for a separate state. Violence erupted on the Osmania University campus here today after pro-Telangana students clashed with police when they were prevented from taking out a rally to join the 'Telangana March'. Police used water cannons and lobbed teargas shells on pro-Telangana supporters near the venue as some of them allegedly tried to defy the orders and proceeded towards the Secretariat. Roads leading to the Secretariat, Chief Minister's office and other high security areas were barricaded. A large number of slogan-shouting students were seen breaking the barricades on the campus and pelted stones at policemen who retaliated by firing tear-gas shells, while some students were also taken into preventive custody. Pro-Telangana activists belonging to different students organisations wanted to be allowed to take out a rally to join the 'Telangana March', but the government had yesterday denied them permission. The Telangana supporters were seen trying to take out a rally towards the state Secretariat, located near the Necklace Road, but they were prevented. The protesters pelted stones at the security personnel at the 'Telugu Talli' fly-over bridge near the Secretariat. Police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. Baton-wielding security forces chased away pro-Telangana activists while they proceeded towards the venue near Ravindra Bharti area. Police also caned scores of Telangana activists after they pelted stones at them near the Secretariat, IMAX theatre, Khairatabad and other places on way to Necklace Road. Congress MPs from the Telangana region were detained by the police when they staged a dharna at the camp office of the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy as they were not allowed to meet him over the detention of Telangana supporters, who were on their way to Hyderabad to participate in the march, police said.

- Sakshipost